Katie Moon, the reigning Olympic champion and World Athletics Championships gold medalist for the United States in the women's pole vault representing Nike, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing Aug. 21 and Aug. 23 at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Moon, 32, is attempting to become only the third back-to-back winner in meet history, joining fellow American in Stacy Dragila in 1999 and 2001, along with Russian star Yelena Isinbayeva in 2005 and 2007. She is also pursuing three consecutive global gold medals, only previously achieved by Dragila, who captured the Olympic crown in 2000, along with her World titles in 1999 and 2001. Moon explains how her mental health this year is significantly better than last season, when she dealt with post-Olympic fatigue and depression, and how she recently began collaborating with the Ohio Opioid Education Alliance to create more discussion surrounding mental health and mental illness. She also examines how recovery has gone following a PRP injection earlier this year in her ankle, and how Moon has been encouraged with the way she has responded from the injury. Moon speaks about how motivating it was to clear a world-leading 16-0.75 (4.90m) on July 9 at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., in addition to achieving a third-attempt clearance at 15-9 (4.80m) on July 23 at the London Athletics Meeting. She also highlights the significance of taking attempts at 16-5.25 (5.01m) at the Toyota USATF Championships and how she expects it will likely take 16-2.75 (4.95m) or better to win the gold medal Aug. 23 in Budapest. Moon analyzes the depth of the international field, and how proud she is that four American women will be competing, since she is the reigning World champion and receives the automatic berth. She speaks about how impressive 18-year-old twins and Washington signees Hana Moll, who is the reigning World U20 gold medalist and is competing in Hungary, and Amanda Moll have been, in addition to her appreciation for Bridget Williams making her first U.S. national team roster at age 27, joining veterans Moon and Sandi Morris, the reigning World silver medalist. Moon explains her inspiration to win again to be able to wear the unique kit available only for World champions, in addition to creating opportunities for four American women to compete again in 2025 at the World Athletics Championships in Japan.