The big moment has arrived for Katerina Stefanidis. The Greek Olympian in Rio is now competing in the pole vault final, with hopes of even a medal.
Stefanidi qualified for the final with a jump of 4.55m, while her presence in the final was ensured by Ariadni Adamopoulou, who announced on Tuesday that she will not compete due to injury.
Watch here live the great battle fought by Katerina Stefanidis.
Stefanidi’s reaction to the final
The qualification limit was 4.75m but at 4.55m. only 11 gymnasts had cleared the height. It was decided that all 11 would qualify without further attempts. But in order to complete the final 12, an athlete who had passed the previous height of 4.40m had to pass. But there it was decided to qualify all of them. Thus, for the first time in the history of the pole vault in the final of the Olympic Games, it was decided that 20 gymnasts will participate, while 19 will appear due to Adamopoulou’s withdrawal.
“Everything went well. Half the girls made it to the final so it wasn’t that difficult. It is unheard of and unacceptable. To me it is clearly the fault of World Athletics, who set the heights wrong for the morning, not understanding where the pole level is. We should get in earlier, there will be a line of 20 girls to warm up. We’ll probably do two trials. In order for the race not to take 5 hours, the heights should be steeper. Anyway, I haven’t thought about them in my head. It is unacceptable in the Olympic Games to have 20 girls in the final”Stefanidi said after her qualification.
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