World Championships 2023: Katie Moon defends shared pole vault gold after criticism

American rod vaulter Katie Moon has defended her determination to stock satellite golden aft disapproval connected societal media.

It is the archetypal clip a golden has been shared successful the competition's history.

Moon said she wanted to enlighten critics who had called them "cowards, shameful, pathetic", explaining that fatigue was a cardinal factor.

"To accidental I person seen mixed reviews astir our determination to stock the triumph would beryllium an understatement," Olympic champion Moon wrote connected Instagram.

"I cognize you can't marque everyone blessed successful this satellite but, successful an effort to assistance radical recognize the athletics that I emotion truthful much, I would similar to explicate the mentality successful that moment.

"The rod vault is not an endurance event. Once the fatigue sets successful it not lone becomes much hard but dangerous.

"The athletics has seen everything from athletes conscionable landing comic with insignificant tweaks to horrific accidents."

The determination of precocious jumpers Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi to stock golden was 1 of the standout moments astatine the Tokyo Olympics 2 years ago.

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Moon and Kennedy's shared golden was celebrated astatine Budapest's National Athletics Centre pursuing a thrilling rod vault final.

Both athletes had cleared 4.90m but neither could marque the 4.95m mark.

Moon said the fatigue from specified a agelong contention had led her to determination her instrumentality disconnected measurement further from the pit, making further attempts riskier.

"To locomotion distant steadfast and with a golden medal portion celebrating with my person that had jumped conscionable arsenic good was a no-brainer," Moon added.

"I recognize that radical privation to spot a wide victor but successful this lawsuit it was without a uncertainty the close decision, and 1 that I volition ne'er regret.

"Contrary to fashionable belief, you bash not request a 'win astatine each cost' mindset to person a champion's mentality.

"Part of the crushed we've reached the highest level is by listening to our bodies."