Athletics at the 2000 Sydney Summer Games:

From 1996-1999, Australia's Emma George had been dominant in this new event for women, setting 12 consecutive world records. But she was battling injuries and would not qualify for the final round. The favorite's role fell to America's Stacy Dragila, who broke George's world record in October 1999, and had set three new marks in 2000. She had also won the 1999 World Championships. There were four vaulters remaining after 4.50 metres (14-9) – Dragila, Russian émigré Tatiana Grigorieva competing for Australia, Icelander Vala Flosadóttir, and Czech Daniela Bártová. Bártová had competed at the Olympics in 1992 as a gymnast but had then turned to pole vaulting. In 1995 she had set nine world records, but George and Dragila had surpassed her. Only Dragila and Grigorieva cleared 4.55 (14-11). Dragila went over 4.60 (15-1) on her first attempt to win the gold. Grigorieva had a miss at 4.60 and then passed to 4.65 (15-3) but could not get over the height and Dragila won the gold medal. Grigorieva was the glamour girl of the event, with model-like looks and had recently done a nude photo layout in an Australian magazine.