World Athletics Championships: Katie Moon hits out at critics over shared gold with Nina Kennedy
After weathering a storm for sharing the pole vault gold medal with Australia’s Nina Kennedy, the sport’s ‘GOAT’ has smashed critics who labelled the move ‘pathetic’.
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American Katie Moon has hit out at critics of her decision to share the pole vault gold medal with Australia’s Nina Kennedy.
Moon, the Olympic and now two-time world champion, says the decision not to have a jump-off was a “no brainer” because of the gruelling nature of the event.
She says she has no regrets despite what she described as “mixed reviews” about her special gesture with Kennedy.
“While part of me doesn’t want to entertain the negative comments, I would like to help enlighten those that are calling us “cowards” , “shameful”, “pathetic” etc,” Moon said in a long social media post.
“I know you can’t make everyone happy in this world, but in an effort to help people understand the sport that I love so much, I would like to explain my mentality in that moment.
“The pole vault is not an endurance event. We have a short window of jumps. Once the fatigue sets in, it not only becomes more difficult, but dangerous.
“The sport has seen everything from athletes just landing funny with minor tweaks, to horrific accidents. We had jumped an entire competition, vaulting for almost 4 hours in 85 degree heat. The competition ended, and we were exhausted.
“A World Championship is incredibly emotionally draining - even more so than a regular competition. My step (the point where I jump off the ground into the takeoff) to vault safely has to be in almost the exact same spot every time, give or take a few inches.
“My last few jumps, that takeoff step was moving further and further out, giving us real data showing my fatigue even with the adrenaline. To walk away healthy and with a gold medal, while celebrating with my friend that had jumped just as well, was a no-brainer.”
Moon said she understands some people’s views that there should always be a clear winner but on this occasion the right call was made after both vaulters cleared 4.90m.
“Part of the reason we’ve reached the highest level is by listening to our bodies, and knowing our limitations,” Moon said.
“We decided that in this particular moment, sharing glory was just as good as earning it outright. I understand that people want to see a clear winner. It is the most exciting part of sport. But in this instance, it was without a doubt the right decisions, and one that I will never regret.
“Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a “win at all cost” mindset to have a champion’s mentality.”
The negative feedback has surprised Moon and Kennedy given the two high-jumpers who did the same thing at the Tokyo Olympics were lauded for the gesture.
Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim decided against a jump-off with the two close friends ensuring the first athletics joint podium in more than a century.
GOLDEN PROMISE: NEWEST AUSTRALIAN CHAMP’S ‘MAGICAL’ PARIS PLAN
By Scott Gullan
New world champion Nina Kennedy has been described by her coach as one of the “great all-time clutch performers” who will now aim big at next year’s Paris Olympics.
Paul Burgess, a three-time Olympic Games pole vault representative, says Kennedy is one of the best big occasion athletes he’s seen across his career.
The West Australian broke her own Australian pole vault record twice en route to sharing the world title with American Katie Moon after they agreed not to do a jump-off to determine the winner.
“I just think she is one of the great all-time clutch performers, she amazes me,” Burgess said. “She was performing good (through the season) even though she hadn’t done a really big one..
“Just knowing Nina I knew she was saving it for the world champs. She just knows how to turn it on.
“I still don’t think she was in charge of that comp until 4.85m when she jumped it. Until then, Wilma Murto, who got the bronze, was looking the best.
“Nina jumping the 85 really put her under pressure and maybe contributed to her tightening up.”
Kennedy had set the Australian record of 4.82m two years ago but broke it twice in the world championships final, clearing 4.85m on her first attempt and 4.90m on her third.
“That (4.90 clearance) felt like an out of body experience,” Burgess said. “The whole thing is just a dream, the whole situation, the way it was all panning out, she was just finding something extra.”
Burgess said he couldn’t believe Kennedy and Moon were able to maintain such an incredible standard given the gruelling conditions which was why he was hoping for a shared gold medal.
“I was hoping that they would do that (share the gold). I just wanted it to finish,” he said.
“They did that themselves. Brad Walker, who I used to compete against (and coaches Katie Moon now), we walked to each afterwards, and were hoping that they would do that.
“But we didn’t know if each other wanted to back down.”
Burgess says there will be no backing down for Kennedy ahead of the Paris Olympics with the magical five-metre barrier - only three women have ever cleared it - in her sights.
“Of course, that (five metres) is something she wants. First we will get ‘95 but she wants five metres and she is capable of five metres. That’s one of her main goals, among a bunch of other things,” Burgess said.
“It’s really hard to do but I now think that nothing is beyond her. She’s a champion.
“We are aiming to win Paris. You just don’t know how often these moments come but we;re not going to aim for less than this.
“We are more than happy to aim big, we don’t think it’s delusional. These are our goals, to aim for anything less would be cheating ourselves.”
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Originally published as World Athletics Championships: Katie Moon hits out at critics over shared gold with Nina Kennedy
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