Pole vaulting is an incredible sport to watch. The vaulter's technique can be so fluid and graceful -- the result of a highly studied technique designed to optimize energy conversion.
Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images
The pole vault originated in Europe, where men used the pole to cross canals filled with water. See more Olympic pictures.
In this article, we will learn a little bit about the history of pole vaulting, and then we will explore the physics of pole vaulting.
