Nina Kennedy of Australia celebrates after winning the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
PARIS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Nina Kennedy secured Australia's first athletics gold medal of the Paris Olympics by winning the women's pole vault on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old prevailed by clearing 4.90 meters to finish ahead of defending champion Moon of the United States, who took silver, and Canada's Alysha Newman, who claimed bronze.
Kennedy, who shared the gold medal with Moon at last year's world championships in Budapest, is Australia's first ever Olympic pole vault champion.
"I wanted that outright gold medal," Kennedy told reporters. "I didn't want to share it this time. I'm just really happy I got the job done. I couldn't be prouder of myself and my team."
Kennedy missed her first attempt at 4.70 before comfortably surpassing the next three heights.
Her successful jump at 4.90 meant Moon had to clear 4.95 to clinch gold, which she failed to do.
"I knew first-attempt clearances at those high bars were going to take the gold," Kennedy said. "I put all my focus into that exact second, and that's how I won."
She added: "I really had to go to places I didn't think that I'd have to go. I had to learn a lot about myself, the way I think, my past - and I had to focus on me as a person and focusing on Nina the human has really brought out the best in Nina the athlete." ■
Nina Kennedy of Australia celebrates after winning the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Alysha Newman of Canada reacts after the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Alysha Newman of Canada competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Alysha Newman of Canada reacts after the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Nina Kennedy of Australia celebrates after winning the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Katie Moon of the United States competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Nina Kennedy of Australia reacts during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Angelica Moser of Switzerland competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Amalie Svabikova of Czech Republic competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Katie Moon of the United States competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Eliza McCartney of New Zealand reacts during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Katie Moon of the United States reacts during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Amalie Svabikova of Czech Republic competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Marie-Julie Bonnin of France reacts during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Robeilys Peinado of Venezuela competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Wilma Murto of Finland competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Angelica Moser of Switzerland competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Katie Moon of the United States competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Angelica Moser of Switzerland competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Alysha Newman of Canada competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Nina Kennedy of Australia competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Tina Sutej of Slovenia competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Nina Kennedy of Australia competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Elisa Molinarolo of Italy competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Nina Kennedy of Australia reacts before the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Nina Kennedy of Australia competes during the women's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
