Kiev, 18th February 2014 – French pole vault star Renaud Lavillenie set a new indoor world record winning the jubilee 25th edition of the ‘Pole Vault Stars’ meeting in Donetsk, Ukraine. Lavillenie performed perfectly at the 6.16 metre height, breaking Sergey Bubka’s 21year old record by 1 cm at the previous record holder’s home town.
Sergey Bubka, now IOC Executive Board member, IAAF Vice President and Ukrainian NOC President, was one of the first to congratulate Renaud at the Druzhba Arena where the previous world record was set in 1993 at the same meeting. Bubka commented, “Renaud Lavillenie’s world record is a great success for the next generation of athletes. I have devoted all my life to sport, learning a lot both during my athlete’s career and after. Now I serve as a sports administrator, to provide athletes with everything they need to perform and to break new records. I’m absolutely happy that a new pole vault world record was set at the Pole Vault Stars’ meeting in Donetsk. Bravo Renaud. He proved today that nothing is impossible. Athletes like Renaud are real role models for the young generation who establish new standards as to strength of mind and physical excellence.”
Sergey Bubka also said, “I have a lot in common with Renaud. Today when his younger brother competed along with him I recalled the years when my brother Vasilly competed in the same sector as me. We always helped each other as Renaud and Valentin have done today. I’m really happy that the new record was set here in Donetsk and congratulate all those who made it possible.”
