Athletics at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault
The men's pole vault was one of four men's jumping events on the athletics program at the 1968 Summer Olympics. The competition had two rounds, qualifying and a final, which were held on 14 and 16 October respectively at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City.
Competition format
The competition consisted of two rounds, qualification and final. In both rounds, each athlete had three attempts at each height and was eliminated from the competition if he failed to clear that height. Athletes could choose to pass onto the next height, although any failed attempts were carried over into that height. The heights increased in increments of five centimetres. Athletes who successfully jumped the qualifying height progressed to the final round. In the event that fewer than twelve athletes cleared that height, the best twelve athletes would progress to the next round.Schedule
Date | Time | Round |
Monday, 14 October 1968 | ? | Qualifications |
Wednesday, 16 October 1968 | ? | Finals |
Records
Prior to the competition, the existing World and Olympic records were as follows.World record | 5.41 m A | Echo Summit, United States | 12 September 1968 | |
Olympic record | 5.10 m | Tokyo, Japan | 17 October 1964 |
The following new Olympic record was set during this competition:
Date | Event | Athlete | Mark | Notes |
16 October | Final | 5.40 | OR |