Katie Moon, future plans
I first met Katie once we transited by means of Abu Dhabi (or someplace!) en path to the Doha Diamond League. On arrival, I hoped my suitcase had made it; Katie and her poles had arrived. Then the meet despatched a mini-bus too quick for poles, which needed to stick out the window! I’ve gotten to know her a bit through the years and at all times appreciated her willingness to speak – and clarify pole vault to me. I had been privileged to be in Tokyo for that Olympic gold, Eugene for that World Championship win, and fairly a number of different locations.
It’s nice to see Katie Moon in a very good place, having fun with her craft and looking out ahead to the longer term as a result of it was not at all times so. On paper, profitable the Olympics in 2021 and the World Championships in 2022 appear like a pinnacle, however there may be one other story: “Completely. It’s humorous, wanting again at 2022, that was by far my hardest 12 months in each sense, and I didn’t understand how I’d come out on the opposite aspect of that – if I’d nonetheless be pole vaulting. However what I discover is that you just – in direction of the tip of every season, I simply nonetheless love the game. When it goes nicely, it’s simply not as a lot enjoyable; it’s terrible when it doesn’t go as nicely. That’s something you’re employed arduous at that you just need to go nicely. I’m so glad that I went by means of that. I imply, I hated it in the mean time. It was terrible, and I’m positive it was terrible for everybody round me. However that 12 months, profitable that World Championships did extra for my confidence and my psychological well-being than something ever had for me within the sport. Simply figuring out that I may win that World Championship with the 12 months that I had had – on a brief method, it lastly instilled this confidence that I’m good at this sport – which sounds ridiculous as a result of I had gained the Olympics”.
In 2024, she competed 10 instances and located that the enjoyable was again: “Once you’re youthful, it is smart to simply bounce at any and each alternative that presents itself, however I believe at my age, 10 competitions is an efficient quantity, however actually yearly it simply relies upon how I’m feeling, how I’m leaping, if I’m feeling good and assured, generally I need extra probabilities to leap at one thing excessive. Typically, I simply need to practice extra and favor the massive ones, however I positively prefer to compete a bit extra slightly than rather less. That’s as a result of I’m very totally different in a contest than in coaching; as a lot as I attempt to replicate that feeling in the identical pole, it’s not the identical. I’m on a lot greater poles in a contest. I’m working a lot sooner, purely with adrenaline, assembly stress, and many others. So I prefer to compete my method into form, so to say”.
Katie additionally had her personal occasion in 2024, the Katie Moon Traditional, which she describes as “superior.” She provides, “I appreciated my hometown and highschool for being so accommodating. Fortunately, we had actually good climate, and it was only a enjoyable, enjoyable meet. It was good that we had a minimum of one woman who certified for the Olympic Trials from there. It was simply good to have a neighborhood meet that individuals supported.”
She is letting the longer term occur! “I’m completely going by means of this 12 months. The tentative aim is that I’d like to be at a house Olympics (2028), however I simply don’t know what my physique will really feel like. Mainly, sure, I’d like to, however we’re simply going to take it 12 months by 12 months and see the way it goes. This sport is tough sufficient as it’s. When you’re not having fun with it, on the core of it, then it’s too troublesome to place your self by means of every thing. And I imply, that’s actually to not sound cliché, however that’s why I began it after I was a child. I simply beloved it. I assumed it was essentially the most enjoyable factor ever. So I’d love to come back full circle and revel in it on the finish of my profession”.
Katie is now based mostly in Tulsa, working full-time along with her husband, Hugo. She continues to be coached by Brad Walker, however remotely. “I’ll work with Brad until I retire. So he’s nonetheless writing all my coaching plans. He’s nonetheless very a lot concerned, however you get to a degree within the pole vault the place we’re not attempting to reinvent the wheel. I’ve just about discovered the majority of what I can from him. And now I can do much more of it away from him and simply fine-tune with him”.
Reflecting on her Olympic and twice World Champion profession, she mentioned: “I’ve had by all accounts a dream profession. I’m so blessed. So many individuals work so arduous at this sport and simply don’t obtain what I’ve, and that’s not misplaced on me. I’m so extremely grateful for that. It’s cool to mirror on all of the sacrifices; the time and power spent was price it. And this perception that I had it myself, that many different folks had in me, was legitimate, and we did so”.
