08.01.2026

World-class pole vaulting at the INIT INDOOR MEETING Karlsruhe with German participation

An illustrious field of competitors awaits visitors to the already completely sold-out INIT INDOOR MEETING in Karlsruhe on 8 February, as five of the nine competitors in the Karlsruhe field also competed for the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic final in Paris. Among them are the two German star athletes Bo Kanda Lita Baehre and Oleg Zernikel, who both finished ninth at the Olympic Games with a jump of 5.70 metres and the same number of failed attempts.

In addition to Bo Kanda Lita Baehre and Oleg Zernikel, other top stars of men's pole vaulting have also confirmed their participation, including fellow Olympic finalists Menno Vloon from the Netherlands (gold at the 2025 European Indoor Championships), Ernest John Obiena from the Philippines (silver at the 2023 World Championships and bronze at the 2022 World Championships) and Norway's Sondre Guttormsen (gold at the 2023 Indoor World Championships). Also competing will be Piotr Lisek from Poland (indoor best of 6.02 metres), Simen Guttormsen (two-time Norwegian champion), Ethan Cormont from France (gold at the 2021 U23 European Championships) and Cole Walsh from the USA.