Stefanidi ready to raise the bar again

Greek pole vaulter, Olympic gold medalist looks to add to international resume with title at European Indoor Championships in Belgrade, possibly challenge Isinbayeva’s meet record

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Ekaterini Stefanidi already has two of the most coveted gold medals in international outdoor competition by winning the European Championships and Olympic title last year.

Before the Greek pole vaulting star pursues her biggest goal this year by trying to win the IAAF World Championships in London in August, Stefanidi is looking to add another significant international victory Saturday at the 34th European Indoor Championships at Kombank Arena in Belgrade, Serbia.

Stefanidi, 27, captured silver at the 2015 European Indoor Championships in the Czech Republic, then earned a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships last year in Oregon.

Not only is the former Stanford University standout seeking her first gold at a major international indoor final, but trying to capture the first title for Greece in any event at European Indoors since 2002 in Vienna, Austria.

“I take things one meet, in fact, one jump at a time,” Stefanidi said. “It will be great to get the gold medal here in Belgrade, but first things first, I have to get on the podium. Once that happens, then I will fight for the gold and the championship record.”

Stefanidi is also looking to challenge the meet record of 16 feet, 0.75 inches (4.90m) set in 2005 by Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva in Madrid, Spain. Since women’s pole vaulting was added to the European Indoor Championships program in 1996, Russia has produced half of the 10 champions in the event.

“Pole vault is a funny event,” Stefanidi said. “Sometimes you can be in your best physical and technical shape and not jump high, but I know I’m a championship athlete and I believe I will perform well here in Belgrade with the ultimate goal, of course, being a championships record, which actually happens to equal my PR.”

After clearing 15-9.75 (4.82m) to win the 110th NYRR Millrose Games, prevailing Feb. 11 in an Olympics finals rematch with American Sandi Morris, Stefanidi overcame illness the following week to secure victory with a clearance of 15-2.25 (4.63m) at the Muller Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham, England in her final tuneup before Belgrade.

“Birmingham was difficult for me, but I was happy to jump 4.63 on a bad day and had great jumps at the next height just couldn't put it together,” Stefanidi said. “I’ve been alright the last four days or so. Physically my health is also great, especially since we haven’t had to travel too much in the last couple of weeks.”

Having recovered from her cold, Stefanidi has been able to analyze and fine tune mechanical and technical issues with her vaulting in preparation for Saturday, trying to become only the fourth Greek athlete to win a European Indoor title. Nia Xanthou was the last to do so, capturing the women’s long jump gold medal in Vienna.

“From the beginning of the season I have been running a lot faster than any other season. While this is clearly good, I was losing my running mechanics due to the speed, or in order to run faster, and I was approaching the take off in a lower position that does not benefit my jumping,” Stefanidi said. “So while I was on big poles, bigger than in Rio, I wasn’t jumping quite as high. We noticed the running mechanic issue and worked on it in the week before the Millrose Games and it clearly worked out (clearing 4.82m).

“We had high expectation for Birmingham, but the second I landed there, I wasn’t feeling great. However I am on bigger poles. We have fixed the running issue and my technique is quite on point.”

Although it has been more than a year since Stefanidi cleared 16 feet, she is motivated not only to take aim at Isinbayeva’s record, but capture a triple crown of international gold medals in an eight-month span to set her up for potential chase for the grand slam in London.

“It’s funny because someone else recently brought up the third gold medal in a row possibility, but I hadn't really thought about it,” Stefanidi said. “I am a very confident athlete, but I respect my competitors very much and know very well that in a championship anything might happen. So yes, it will be great to get a third gold medal in a row, but it will certainly not be an easy task. I’m ready for it though.”