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[01]How Many World Records Did Sergey Bubka Set?

Bubka's record-setting career

First 6 m clearance: 1985

Bubka cleared 6.00 m on July 13, 1985 at Paris, becoming the first man in history to break the 6-meter barrier. Bubka cleared 6.00 m 45 separate times during his career.

17 outdoor world records

Bubka raised the outdoor world record from 5.85 m (his first WR, 1984) to 6.14 m (1994) in 17 incremental steps. He often broke his own record by 1 cm, a strategy reportedly motivated by performance bonuses tied to record-setting.

18 indoor world records

Bubka set 18 indoor world records, reaching 6.15 m in 1993. The indoor 6.15 m mark stood for 21 years until Lavillenie's 6.16 m in February 2014.

Petrov-Bubka model

Bubka's technique is still the standard

Bubka's coach Vitaly Petrov developed the modern "Petrov method" of pole vault. Plumb takeoff, complete inversion, push-off above the bar. AI form check evaluates your technique against this standard.

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Pole vaulter at the plant, pole bending, body inverted, Track & Field AI analysis (bubka)
Pole Vault · Sample analysis “Takeoff foot is 6 inches behind the top hand, costs you at least 6 inches of usable pole bend. Move takeoff mark forward 12 inches.”
[10]Common questions

How Many World Records Did Sergey Bubka Set? FAQ

Common questions athletes and coaches ask about this topic.

How many world records did Sergey Bubka set?
35 total: 17 outdoor and 18 indoor between 1984 and 1994.
What was Sergey Bubka's pole vault world record?
6.14 m (20 ft 1.75 in) outdoor (1994). 6.15 m indoor (1993). Both records stood for 20+ years.
Why did Sergey Bubka break his own records so often?
Multiple explanations: he was the only vaulter near 6 m for years, performance bonuses incentivized incremental records, and he genuinely vaulted higher than anyone else for a decade.
Did Sergey Bubka win Olympic gold?
Yes, in 1988 Seoul at 5.90 m. Bubka was the favorite at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 but did not win at either.
Who is the better pole vaulter, Bubka or Duplantis?
Subjective. Bubka set 35 world records and held the WR for 20+ years; Duplantis has surpassed Bubka's height marks and won two Olympic golds. Both are widely considered top-2 of all time.
[INDEX]More ways to dial in your pole vault

The full pole vault index

A directory of every pole vault page on the site, from broad analysis tools to specific phase deep-dives. Each entry points to a focused write-up.

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