Katie Moon has added another Olympic medal to her collection.
The Olmsted Falls native finished second in pole vault at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on August 7, securing a silver medal with a jump of 4.85 meters (15 feet, 11 inches). Moon was narrowly defeated by Australia’s Nina Kennedy, who cleared 4.90 meters (16 feet, 3/4 inches) to take gold. Canada’s Alysha Newman also matched Moon’s height but had to settle for the bronze.
Kennedy’s height, which was also Moon’s winning mark at the Tokyo 2021 Games, and the same height they both cleared last year to share the 2023 world championship, proved crucial. Under pressure, Moon cleared 4.85 meters on her final attempt, ensuring her silver medal.
In the finals, a total of 19 athletes competed, and Moon rose to the occasion. She began her jumps at 4.40 meters and successfully cleared the first four heights, with only five competitors surpassing 4.80 meters.
Moon failed to clear her first attempt at 4.90 meters, but Switzerland’s Angelica Moser was eliminated, which guaranteed Moon a medal. Choosing to pass on the 4.90 height, she saw Newman exit after her attempts. However, she missed both attempts at 4.95 meters, allowing Kennedy to claim the top spot.
Moon had previously qualified for the finals by being among 10 individuals to clear 4.55 meters on August 5.
Since women’s pole vault was introduced at the Olympics in 2000, Moon has distinguished herself as one of six athletes to win a gold medal. She was the third American to achieve gold in 2021 and now joins an elite group as the fourth athlete to earn multiple Olympic medals in this event.
In preparation for the 2024 Olympics, Moon returned to her hometown of Olmsted Falls in June to host the Katie Moon Pole Vault Classic. There, she cleared 4.73 meters to clinch victory against what turned out to be a competitive field at the United States Olympic Trials. Another competitor, Canada’s Anicka Newell, qualified for the Olympics but did not progress to the finals.