Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Sergey Bubka (2025)

Sergey Bubka whose full name is Sergey Nazarovych Bubka is a soviet and Ukrainian former pole vaulter born on 4^th December 1963. Bubka represented Soviet Union until 1991 when it was dissolved.

Bubka was one of the 24 athletes inducted as inaugural members of the International Association of Athletics Federation Hall of Fame in 2012. Track and Field News named Bubka twice as the Athlete of the Year.

Bubka broke the world record for men’s pole vault 35 times and won six consecutive IAAF World Championships and an Olympic gold medal.

The following are the top 10 fascinating facts about Sergei Bubka.

1. Bubka Took to Pole Vault at The Age Of 9 Years by Accident

Born in Voroshilovgrad which is modern day Luhansk in Ukraine, Bubka took to pole vault at the age of 9 by accident.

Bubka started off his athletic career by participating in long jump and 100 meters track and field activities.

He came into pole vault by accident when he saw a neighbor playing the game. He was however advised to wait until he got to age 12 before he could participate in the event.

2. He Followed His Coach Vitaly Petrov When He Was Transferred

His love for the game of pole vault saw him together with his brother Vasiliy Bubka follow his coach Vitaly Petrov to Donetsk when the coach was transferred there.

He followed his coach to Donetsk continue with his pole vault training.

Due to his persistence he finished seventh on his first appearance on the international scene at the ‘European Junior Championship’ in 1981.

3. Bubka Developed A New Pole-Vaulting Technique

Bubka was the first athlete to use the Petrov/Bubka pole vaulting technique. The technique involved holding the pole higher than other athletes in pole vault sports championships.

In a senior meet in 1983 in Helsinki in Finland, he made his debut by winning the world championship pole vaulting event.

Being an unknown athlete, he won the gold medal by clearing 5.70 meters which was a surprise to many people.

4. Bubka Set and Broke His Own Records Which Earned Him Bonuses

After winning gold in Helsinki Finland in 1983, Bubka continued with his winning ways. He proceeded to set the world record by clearing 5.85 meters on 26^th May, 1984 which enhanced his reputation.

He broke his own record by clearing 5.90 meters one month later. Bubka set these records during a time when the Soviet sports system rewarded athletes who set world records.

Bubka was noted for setting records with the slimmest margins and as result collected rewards from the Soviet sporting system frequently.

5. Bubka Cleared 6.00 Meters Which Was Long Considered Unattainable

In Paris on 13^th July, 1985 Bubka cleared 6.00 meters in pole vault for the first time. Before then the sporting fraternity around the world had long considered clearing 6.00 meters in a game of pole vault unattainable.

Bubka proceeded to clear the 6.00 meters more than 44 times after that. As from 1984 to 1988, a span of four years, he increased the world record by 21 centimeters.

6. Bubka Was Named the Sportsman of The Soviet Union for Three Years in A Row

Due to Soviet Union boycott, Bubka missed the bus to the 1984 Olympics. He however competed at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul where he cleared 5.90 meters and won his only Olympic Gold Medal.

Due to his sporting excellent performance and the records he set and broke, Bubka as from 1984 to 1986 was named the best sportsman of the Soviet Union for three years in a row.

In San Sebastian, Spain in 1991, Bubka became the first athlete in history to clear 6.10 meters in a pole vault games championship setting yet another world record.

7. Bubka Seemed Cursed at The Olympics But Dominated IAAF Championships

Bubka appeared to be cursed when it came to competing and winning at the Olympics. In the 1992 Olympics Bubka was out of the competition after he failed to clear all his first three attempts.

He withdrew from the Atlanta Olympics due to a heel injury without making any attempt to play.

His curse in Olympics was also evident as he was eliminated in the finals in the 2000 Sydney Olympics after failing to clear 5.70 meters in three attempts.

Even though he had bad luck in Olympic games he excelled at the IAAF World Championships as from 1983 to 1997 as he scaled different heights and won six consecutive championships in pole vault events.

8. Bubka’s Record Was Broken Only Once While He Broke the Record 35 Times

During his long career, Bubka broke the men’s pole Vault record 35 times and that not counting the 18 indoor records and the 17 outdoor records that he set.

Bubka won numerous titles which included the 1996 Goodwill Games, the 1985 and 1997 Grand Prix finals, the World Indoor titles, the European title and the European Indoor titles

In 1994, he set his personal record which was then the world record of 6.14 meters. No other athlete came close until January 2014 when his record was broken just once

9. Bubka Was Elected as A Member of The Athletes Commission

Bubka was elected as a Member of the Athletes Commission by the International Olympic Committee in 1996 due to his contribution to athletics.

Bubka was elected to provide input into the governance of sports from the perspective of an athlete who was competing actively in athletics championships.

10. Bubka’s Contribution to Sports Was Recognized Far and Wide

For his contribution to sports, Bubka was appointed a member of Monaco based international organization which is under the patronage of Albert II, Prince of Monaco called Champions for Peace club.

The club aims to champion dialogue and social cohesion through sports throughout the world.

Bubka was designated a UNESCO champion for sports by its Director General, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, in 2003.

He was appointed the Ukraine National Olympic Committee President in 2005 and in 2007 he was elected as the Vice President of the International Association of Athletic Federation.

Bubka was one of the 24 athletes inducted as inaugural members of the International Association of Athletics Federation Hall of Fame in 2012.

Track and Field News named Bubka twice as the Athlete of the Year