Israeli Pole Vaulter Yarden Mental Competes at World U20 Championships Without Her Own Pole

Israeli pole vaulter Yarden Mental, the national champion, participated in the World U20 Championships in Eugene but failed to clear any height and did not advance to the next round. Mental competed using a pole borrowed from another athlete after her personal poles did not arrive at the competition, a situation described as a farce by former European champion Alex Averbukh. Averbukh questioned whether she had a fair chance, emphasizing that the pole is an essential tool for the athlete and noting that all other competitors used their own equipment.

Mental attempted to clear the starting height of 3.80 meters but failed all three attempts. The Israeli Athletics Association provided her with an identical pole and engaged in ongoing communication with Mental and her coach, Roman Kogan, to find a solution. However, logistical challenges stemming from the ongoing air travel crisis affecting Israel and difficulties with international and American airlines prevented her poles from being transported to Oregon.

The World U20 organizing committee offered athletes the option to rent poles from an American company, but Mental and her coach declined because she uses poles from a different manufacturer. The association then arranged a rental agreement with the company supplying her usual poles. Despite these efforts, the equipment issues clearly impacted Mental's performance. The Israeli Athletics Association expressed regret over the situation and hopes such incidents will not recur, wishing Mental and her coach success in their future endeavors.

Mental, who recently set a personal best of 4.16 meters, was competing in her second World U20 Championship and is considered the leading athlete in her discipline in Israel.