Moon on returning to Tokyo — and competing in an event popularised by Mondo Duplantis
Moon is one of a few athletes on the U.S. team who were in Tokyo four summers ago. Back then, competing under her maiden name of Katie Nageotte, she cleared 4.90m to take her first major global title. Since then, she has added the world titles in Oregon in 2022 and Budapest in 2023. She won silver behind Kennedy at Paris 2024.
“I had such a good experience with no fans,” Moon said of 2021, when the Olympics were held behind closed doors due to the Covid pandemic. “So having fans there, I think is going to be really incredible.
“More than anything, my family will get to be there. Anytime I get to compete and they’re in the stands, I tend to do better — knock on wood. I’m just excited to be back and to see that stadium filled with people is going to be pretty special.”
If anything else has changed in those four years, it’s the surging popularity of her event, thanks to her fellow Olympic champion from Tokyo 2020, Mondo Duplantis in the men’s event. The Swede has made vaulting a must-watch, threatening to break the world record each time he competes.
“I think we can all see it,” Moon said. “What he’s doing for the sport is incredible and just seeing him get to do even opportunities outside of the sport because of pole vaulting is awesome — it’s bringing light to an event that maybe didn’t have the attention on it before him.
“I wouldn’t say I’m at the level that he is, where I can vault maybe as few times as he does (in competition). He’s got his jump dialled in, and so now he’s become the best athlete you can.
“To some extent, that is what we do — I have not jumped since I got here and I won’t jump until the prelim. That’s how I’ve done it every Championships; I’m very much less is more when it comes to my vaulting as well, but if I’m fast and strong and powerful, that’s really what it comes down to.”
How to watch Katie Moon in women’s pole vault at World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25
Women’s pole vault qualification takes place from 9:05 am local time on Monday 15 September (8:05 pm ET Sunday 14 September), with the final from 8:10 pm local time on Wednesday 17 September (7:10 am ET).
In the U.S., fans can watch the World Athletics Championships on NBC/Peacock.
Find your local broadcaster here.
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