Stacy Dragila winning the first-ever women's Olympic pole vault gold medal was honored by USA Track & Field as the 14^th greatest moment in U.S. track and field history in the last 25 years.

The women's vault was a featured event of the Sydney Olympics, where women's sports took center stage across different Olympic venues. With her win, Dragila cemented her place in Olympic history, entrenching herself as the top trailblazer in the women's vault. Her gold medal helped inspire thousands of young girls to take up pole vaulting and fueled its explosive popularity.

Having already won the first ever women's World Indoor title in 1997 and World Outdoor title in1999, Stacy Dragila entered the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney as a heavy favorite to win the gold medal. She did not disappoint.

Dragila, who established the world record of 4.63 meters/15 feet, 2.25 inches in winning the 2000 Olympic Trials in Sacramento, faced a scare in Sydney when she failed to clear 4.50m/14-9 on her first two tries. After sailing over that height on her final attempt, Dragila went on to win the gold medal with her clearance of 4.50m/15-1.

In breaking the women's world pole vault record on five occasions in 2000 (three indoors, two outdoors), Dragila ended the season ranked #1 in the world and was presented with USATF's prestigious Jesse Owens Award as the nation's most outstanding women's athlete that year.

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