Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault


The Men's Pole Vault event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union had an entry list of 19 competitors. The final was held on Wednesday July 30, 1980. The top twelve and ties and all those clearing 5.40 metres advanced to the final.
Throughout the event, home town fans were cheering for Konstantin Volkov, while booing, whistling and jeering at the Poles Tadeusz Ślusarski and Władysław Kozakiewicz. There were even accusations that the Soviet facility management were opening and closing giant doors to the stadium to change the wind pattern against opposing vaulters.
When Kozakiewicz secured his gold medal position, Kozakiewicz made the Bras d'honneur gesture which became known as "Kozakiewicz's gesture". in defiance to the Soviet crowd. He later confirmed his dominance over the competition by breaking the world record, clearing at 5.78 meters.
The photos of this incident circled the globe, with the exception of the Soviet Union and its satellites, although the event was broadcast live on TV in many countries of the Bloc. While international observers varied in their reaction to the incident, Kozakiewicz's act received much support in Polish society, which resented Soviet control over Eastern Europe. After the 1980 Olympics ended, the Soviet ambassador to Poland demanded that Kozakiewicz be stripped of his medal over his "insult to the Soviet people". The official response of the Polish government was that Kozakiewicz's arm gesture had been an involuntary muscle spasm caused by his exertion.

Medalists

Results

Qualification

Held on Monday July 28, 1980
Qualification rule: Qualifying performance 5.40 or at least 12 best performers advance to the Final.
RankGroupNameNationality5.155.255.355.40ResultNotes
1ATadeusz Ślusarski–xo–o5.40Q
1BMariusz Klimczyk–xo–o5.40Q
3AJean-Michel Bellot–oxoo5.40Q
4AThierry Vigneronxoxoxoo5.40Q
5AWładysław Kozakiewicz–o–xo5.40Q
6BMiro Zalaroooxo5.40Q
7BTapani Haapakoski–oxoxo5.40Q
8AKonstantin Volkov–oo–5.35q
9BRauli Pudas–ooxxx5.35q
10BBrian Hooperooxoxxx5.35q
11ASergey Kulibaba–xoxo–5.35q
12APhilippe Houvionoxxoxox5.35q
13BAtanas Tarev–xoxxx5.25
14AFelix Böhnioxxx5.15
15BAxel Weberxoxxx5.15
AAntti Kalliomäki––xxx'
AYuriy Prokhorenko––xxx'
BPatrick Desruellesxxx'
BIvo Yanchevxxx'

Final

Held on Wednesday July 30, 1980.
RankNameNationality5.155.255.355.455.505.555.605.655.705.755.785.82ResultNotes
Władysław Kozakiewicz––o–o–ooooxoxxx5.78WR
Konstantin Volkov––o––o–xxoxx–x5.65
Tadeusz Ślusarski––o––o–xxoxxx5.65
Philippe Houvion–xo–xo–o–xxoxxx5.65
Jean-Michel Bellot––o–o–oxxx5.60
Mariusz Klimczyk–o–xo–o–xxx5.55
Thierry Vigneron–o–o–xxx5.45
Sergey Kulibaba–xo–o–xxx5.45
Tapani Haapakoski–xo–xo–xxx5.45
10Miro Zalar–ooxx–x5.35
11Brian Hooperooxxoxxx5.35
12Rauli Pudas–o–xxx5.25