Technique
Bubka possessed great strength, speed and gymnastic abilities. His average speed during pole vaulting approach was reportedly 35.7 km/h (9.9 m/s, 22.2 mph). He gripped the pole higher than most vaulters to get extra leverage, though Bubka himself played down the effect of grip alone. Bubka's strength meant that he could use a pole that was relatively heavy for his weight, thereby generating more recoil force. Incidentally, the statue erected in his image in Donetsk is using an incorrect (and impossible) grip on the pole.
His development and mastery of the Petrov/Bubka technical model is also considered as a key to his success. A technical model is a sequence of positions and pressures that describe the method and form of a style of pole vaulting. The Petrov/Bubka model is superior to many others today because it allows the vaulter to continuously put energy into the pole while rising towards the bar. While most of the conventional models focus on heavy planting of the pole to the landing pad to create maximum bend in the pole even before they leave the ground, the Petrov/Bubka model concentrates on driving the pole up rather than bending it while planting it on the landing pad. While the traditional models depended on the recoil by bending the pole, the Petrov/Bubka model could exploit the recoil of the pole and exert more energy on the pole during the swinging action.
Read more about this topic: Sergey Bubka
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