Pole vault: Kiwi Olivia McTaggart shines with career-best 4.73m win in Diamond League
Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
New Zealand pole vaulter Olivia McTaggart, pictured ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo / RNZ
By RNZ
New Zealand pole vaulter Olivia McTaggart has produced the performance of her career in winning the Diamond League event at London's Olympic Stadium.
In front of a sold-out crowd of 60,000, McTaggart leapt to a new lifetime best, clearing 4.73m to claim the victory on a countback.
McTaggart won the event ahead of one of the strongest pole vault fields assembled this season, which included hometown hero Molly Caudery, the 2024 world indoor champion, and American Katie Moon, the 2020 Olympic champion and the 2022 and 2023 world champion.
McTaggart's 4.73m jump eclipses her previous best of 4.71m, which she recorded just five days ago in Switzerland.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
NZ Olympic Team Honour Pounamu Journey With Inaugural Winter Wānanga
The New Zealand Team in collaboration with Ngāi Tahu Pounamu, has completed its first-ever Winter Wānanga in Māwhera (Greymouth) to strengthen the connection between New Zealand Team athletes, Paralympic athletes and Poutini Ngāi Tahu, the true kaitiaki (guardians) of pounamu. For the past 20 years, each Olympic and Paralympic team member has been gifted a pounamu pendant carved by Ngāi Tahu Pounamu, to help unite and inspire athletes while competing for their country. Five NZ Team Olympic athletes and one Paralympic athlete to Milano Cortina attended the wānanga alongside Chefs de Mission Marty Toomey and Jane Stevens. The two-day cultural immersion was created to give athletes and staff a deeper cultural understanding and connection to Poutini Ngāi Tahu, pounamu, and te ao Māori, through shared learning, reflection, and whakawhanaungatanga. The Winter Wānanga marked a significant milestone in the New Zealand Team's ongoing commitment to upholding a team culture of manaaki with a programme centred around three themes - People, Place, and Pounamu. Athletes were immersed in the whakapapa of pounamu, including the creation, artistry, sustainability and its significance as a taonga shared across Olympic and Paralympic campaigns. Olympic gold medallist Zoi Sadowski-Synnott said she felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the meaning and history of pounamu. 'The pounamu we receive at the Games is incredibly special, but having this experience gives us a deeper understanding of what it truly represents,' she said. 'This is the first time I've ever been a part of something like this, and it's really special to have been welcomed so warmly, with Poutini Ngāi Tahu sharing their history, culture and family with us.' Ngāi Tahu Operations Manager Chantal Tumahi says it was a full circle moment to host the inaugural wānanga, marking the first time athletes have had input into the design of the pendants that will be made for the Milano Cortina Winter Games. 'Pounamu connects the wearer to whenua (place), whānau (people) and whakapapa (ancestry). When gifted to our Olympic athletes pounamu becomes a powerful symbol of connection - grounding them in Aotearoa, reminding them of where they come from and linking them to one another. 'All pendants gifted to NZ Team and Paralympic athletes are carved from a single piece of Pounamu. This shared origin unites every New Zealand Olympic and Paralympic athlete, binding them through the mauri (life force) of the stone. When one athlete wears their pounamu they carry with them the strength, support, and presence of every other athlete – a permanent bond forged through the enduring nature of pounamu.' Pounamu is a cornerstone of Te Kapa o Aotearoa, the New Zealand Team. It is a prized taonga that has become a symbol of pride, mana, and excellence for all Olympic and Paralympic athletes of Aotearoa New Zealand. Pounamu holds deep spiritual and cultural significance to Ngāi Tahu. The taonga is a powerful representation of identity, ancestry and connection to people and place. As kaitiaki of all pounamu within their takiwā (territory) Poutini Ngāi Tahu have a deep responsibility to protect and preserve the mana of the stone. Pounamu plays a vital role in maintaining traditions, upholding cultural practices and supporting the aspirations of Poutini Ngāi Tahu. For the first time since it was presented to the New Zealand Team by Ngāi Tahu Pounamu in 2004, the mauri stone, a symbol of life force and spiritual connection to Aotearoa, returned home to the Arahura river, carrying with it the collective energy, stories and mana of every athlete who has represented our nation on the world stage. 'It was very humbling to return the New Zealand Team mauri stone to its home in Arahura, to replenish the mauri of the stone and strengthen the relationship of NZOC and Poutini Ngāi Tahu as kaitiaki of the stone,' said Nicki Nicol, CEO of the NZOC. The Winter Wānanga marked a meaningful step in the New Zealand Team's cultural journey, deepening athletes' connection to pounamu and home.
Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Fairweather disqualified in world title defence
Canadian teenage sensation Summer McIntosh powered away to a convincing win in the final, clocking 3min 56.26sec to finish two seconds ahead of China's Li Bingjie. American Katie Ledecky followed in third, while Australian Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus was not present. Fairweather won the event at last year's World Championships, although the big three of Titmus, McIntosh and Ledecky did not feature on that occasion. She came within a whisker of that trio at last year's Paris Olympics, finishing an agonising 0.26sec behind bronze medallist Ledecky. Fellow New Zealander Eve Thomas also swam in the event, although missed out on a final spot, posting the 14th fasted heat time of 4min 10.10sec. Fairweather will get her chance at redemption in the 200m freestyle tomorrow, and the 800m freestyle later this week. - APL
NZ Herald
10 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Uefa Women's Euro 2025 final: England beat Spain on penalty shootout to defend Euro title
Hannah Hampton of England saves the second penalty from Mariona Caldentey of Spain during the Uefa Women's Euro 2025 final match in Basel, Switzerland. Photo / Getty Images Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Already a subscriber? Sign in here Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen. Uefa Women's Euro 2025 final: England beat Spain on penalty shootout to defend Euro title Hannah Hampton of England saves the second penalty from Mariona Caldentey of Spain during the Uefa Women's Euro 2025 final match in Basel, Switzerland. Photo / Getty Images England have defended their Uefa Women's Euro title in dramatic fashion with a penalty shoot-out victory over World Cup champions Spain in Basel. Spain missed three straight penalties, including one by Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati, before Chloe Kelly smashed home the winner to complete a 3-1 shootout victory. The final ended 1-1 after 120 minutes. Spain held the early lead through Mariona Caldentey in the 25th minute before Alessia Russo scored the equaliser early in the second half. More to come...
