Stacy Dragila facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Stacy Dragila

Dragila at the 2005 Reno Pole Vault Summit
Personal information
Birth name	Stacy Renée Mikaelsen
Born	(1971-03-25) March 25, 1971 (age 54) Auburn, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 7+1⁄2 in (1.72 m)
Weight	137 lb (62 kg)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Pole vault
Club	Nike, Beaverton
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	Pole vault: 4.83 (2004)
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney Pole vault World Championships Gold 1999 Seville Pole vault Gold 2001 Edmonton Pole vault World Indoor Championships Gold 1997 Paris Pole vault Silver 2004 Budapest Pole vault

Stacy Dragila, born on March 25, 1971, is a famous former American pole vaulter. She won a gold medal at the Olympics and became a world champion many times. She is known for being one of the best female pole vaulters ever.

Early Life and Sports

Stacy Dragila standing in front of her photographic statue while being inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame

Stacy grew up in Auburn, California. She used to do gymnastics but stopped because of asthma when she was a child.

At Placer High School, she played volleyball. She was also on the track team. There, she competed in running, hurdles, and jumping events. She even placed second in the 400 meters hurdles at a big competition in 1990.

She later went to Idaho State University. She graduated in 1995. At college, she tried the heptathlon, which is a competition with seven different track and field events. Her coach, who used to be a pole vaulter, introduced her to pole vaulting. She was one of the first women to compete in official pole vault events.

Amazing Pole Vault Career

Stacy Dragila won the women's pole vault at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials. At that time, women's pole vault was not yet an official Olympic sport. It was just a demonstration event.

In March 1997, Stacy won her first big international title. She won the pole vault at the Indoor World Championships in Paris. She also set a new indoor world record by jumping 4.48 meters (about 14 feet 8 inches).

Two years later, in 1999, she won gold again at the Outdoor World Championships. She set her first outdoor world record with a jump of 4.60 meters (about 15 feet 1 inch). Throughout her career, Stacy set or tied the indoor world record 8 times and the outdoor world record 10 times!

Stacy Dragila accepting her induction into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame

In 2000, Stacy won the U.S. Olympic Trials again. She also set another world record, jumping 4.63 meters (about 15 feet 2 inches). Later that year, she made history at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She won the very first Olympic gold medal for women's pole vault!

Stacy's last major competition was the World Championships in 2009. She jumped 4.25 meters. She was 38 years old then. Even at that age, her jumps were still very impressive.

In 2014, Stacy was honored for her amazing career. She was chosen to be in the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. Idaho State University, her old college, even holds an annual track and field event named after her, called the Stacy Dragila Open.

International Achievements

Stacy Dragila competed in many big international events. Here are some of her top results:

National Championships

Stacy also won many national titles in the United States:

• USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
  • Pole vault (9 times): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
• USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
  • Pole vault (8 times): 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004

Personal Life

Stacy Dragila lives in Boise, Idaho. She owns and coaches at a special pole vault training center called Dragila Vault Co.

She is married to Ian Waltz, who is an American discus thrower. They have a daughter named Allyx Josephine Waltz, born on June 21, 2010.

Awards and Recognition

• World Athletics Awards
  • World Athlete of the Year (Women): 2001

See also

In Spanish: Stacy Dragila para niños