MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 June 2026 - World Athletics has accepted Russian pole vaulter Polina Knoroz's 4.87m clearance at Athletics Week in Moscow into its official statistics. The result is now listed as the best women's outdoor pole vault performance in the world so far in 2026, and the second-best mark of the 2026 season overall, behind a result set indoors earlier this year.

Knoroz, 26, cleared 4.87m on 7 June 2026, during Pole Vault Day, which was held as part of Athletics Week in Moscow. The mark is a personal best for Knoroz and the leading women's outdoor pole vault performance worldwide in 2026.

The result had initially not been accepted by World Athletics, which cited concerns over the certification of the vaulting box – the equipment used to plant the pole during a vault.

World Athletics reviewed the matter and accepted the result for statistical and ranking purposes, confirming it as a valid competitive performance.

Athletics Week, held in Moscow on 4–7 June, brought together around 120 athletes from 26 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, including Olympic champions.

"Russian athletes are focused on competing at the highest professional level and producing performances that meet international standards," said Petr Fradkov, chairman of the Russian Athletics Federation.

"We believe the best stage for that is ultimately the Olympic Games and other major international competitions. World Athletics' acceptance of this result is an important step toward open and fair competition, where athletic performance is what matters most."