All 16 finalists cleared 5.70 in the qualifying round, and the 5.65s of
Romain Mesnil (FRA) and Matti Mononen (FIN) would have been
enough to reach any previous Olympic final. Others to miss out includ-
ed six-metre vaulters Okkerts Brits (RSA) and 2001 World Champion
Dmitri Markov (AUS). Nine countries were represented in the final,
with Germany, Ukraine and the USA each with a full complement of
three. All finalists made 5.55, and Tim Lobinger, the German 6m
vaulter, was the biggest casualty at 5.65. European Champion
Averbukh was the next star to miss out, having made 5.65 for eighth
place. At 5.85 there were still six athletes, though only three made it,
led by Gibilisco, who astonished with his 2003 world title, and was
almost as surprising here. Mack and Stevenson reacted by clearing 5.90
first time, with Stevenson taking the lead. Both men had close failures
at 5.95, followed by less excellent efforts. Mack cleanly went over 5.95
at his last attempt. Stevenson again had a close miss, and Mack then
tried 6.00 and was close with his final attempt. After winning just three
medals between 1976 and 1996, the USA had won the top four medals
of the six available in 2000-04.
United States
Italy
Russia
Germany
Israel
Netherlands
Ukraine
Australia
Japan
France
South Africa
Finland
Czechia
Slovenia
Bulgaria
Greece
South Korea
Kazakhstan
Sweden
Great Britain
Denmark
Spain
Poland
Mexico
Uzbekistan
