KENNEDY ON TOP OF THE WORLD WITH MAIDEN WORLD TITLE

Nina Kennedy has soared to the top of the podium at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest winning her maiden World Championship title. The WA Pole Vaulter has electrified the Australian athletics community with a golden performance on the world's largest stage, breaking her own Australian record twice and jumping to ninth on the world all-time list.

Following a dominant and clean qualifying round earlier in the week, Nina Kennedy (UWA, Paul Burgess & James Fitzpatrick) has bettered her bronze medal from the 2022 Championships in spectacular fashion with an exhilarating finals performance. Facing off in a tight battle with the defending World Champion Katie Moon (USA), Kennedy's nerves of steel were tested with the duo facing off in the final stages of the competition. 

The 26-year-old twice broke her national record (4.82m) when clearing 4.85m on the first attempt, and once again on her final attempt at 4.90m. Moon matched Kennedy's clearances jump for jump, with both women attempting but unable to clear 4.95m after three attempts. As both athletes were unable to clear 4.95m, officials offered Kennedy and Moon two options, jump off or share the title. In scenes reminiscent of the Tokyo Olympic high jump final, where Qatar's Mutaz Barshim and Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi went for the latter, Nina and Moon locked eyes and embraced as they decided to share their winning moment.

"When we were equal, we were both looking at each other. I didn't think she was going to want to share it. I said to her, 'hey girl, you maybe want to share?' You could see the relief come over her face, and she was like, 'yes!' and then we both started crying." Kennedy said. 

“It is unbelievable. It’s a huge honour to share this gold with Katie. It shows that dreams really do come true,”

“I have been planning the competition in my head for so many months now, it’s such a battle. Katie is the Olympic champion, she’s the world champion and she’s honestly one of the greatest in the sport, so to share it with her is an honour and a privilege and will mean that we’ll be connected forever."

“Last year I didn’t really believe that I belonged on the podium but tonight I was going for gold and really, deep down, I believed in myself and came up with the goods" 

Kennedy's triumph makes her Australia's 11th World Champion in Track and Field and is Australia's first pole vault champion since Steve Hooker's win in 2009. The gold medal tops off an incredible twelve months for the West Australian who collected bronze at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, closely followed by gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. 

By David Smith, Athletics West

Extra Reporting Athletics Australia

Posted 24 August 2023