Zhong Tao[a] (Chinese: 钟涛; born 12 August 2002) is a Chinese pole vaulter. He became a national indoor champion in 2024 and then won the gold medal at the Asian Indoor Championships.

Zhong Tao
Personal information
Native nameChinese: 钟涛
Nationality China
Born12 August 2002 (22 years, 113 days old)[1]
Home townTongling, Anhui, China[1][2]
Sport
SportSport of athletics
EventPole vault
Achievements and titles
National finals
Personal best(s)PV:
5.75m (2024)

LJ:
6.92m (−0.5) (2020)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  China
Asian U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Hong Kong Pole vault
Asian Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Tehran Pole vault
Updated on 6 April 2024

Career

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Zhong earned his first international title in 2019, winning the Asian U18 Championships. He also equaled the championship record of 5.00 metres.[1]

After finishing 4th and 7th at the 2021 Chinese championships and National Games, Zhong improved his best to 5.61 m in May 2023, qualifying him for the 2023 World Athletics Championships. At those World Championships, Zhong finished 18th overall and did not qualify for the final.[1]

At the 2024 Astana Indoor Meeting, Zhong finished 3rd in the pole vault.[3] He won his first national title at the 2024 Chinese Indoor Athletics Championships, beating Huang Bokai and Yao Jie in an anticipated match-up.[4] At the 2024 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, Zhong became Asian champion as he jumped 5.65 m, 0.05 metres better than the field.[1]

Zhong finished tied for 4th at the 2024 Xiamen Diamond League.[1]

Personal life

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Zhong is from Tongling, Anhui, China. He attended Yangjiashan Elementary School, where he began to train for athletics.[1][5][2] He has been described as the "big brother" of the Chinese pole vaulting world.[4]

Statistics

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Personal best progression

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Pole Vault progression
# Mark Pl. Competition Venue Date Ref.
1 4.60 m   National Grand Prix, Youth Olympic Games Trials Zhuzhou, China 16 Apr 2018 [6]
2 5.00 m   National Indoor Grand Prix Nanjing, China 18 Feb 2019 [7]
4 5.15 m   National Youth Games Luoyang, China 27 Jun 2019 [8]
5 5.40 m 4th Chinese Athletics Championships Shaoxing, China 12 Jun 2021 [9]
6 5.45 m   CAA Training Base Indoor Permit Meeting Nanjing, China 4 Mar 2022 [10]
7 5.50 m   National Indoor Grand Prix Jinan, China 15 Feb 2023 [11]
8 5.61 m 4th National Grand Prix Taizhou, Jiangsu, China 25 May 2023 [12]
9 5.75 m   Chinese Athletics Championships Tianjin, China 28 Mar 2024 [13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Zhong Tao at Tilastopaja (registration required)
  2. ^ a b "冠军之路钟涛的励志成长故事_世界_训练_比赛". www.sohu.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  3. ^ Shakeel, Maleehah (27 January 2024). "Astana Indoor Meet: Mondo Duplantis Roars Over Kazak Turf With First Pole Vault Gold for 2024". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b "田径-全国室内锦标赛:钟涛获男子撑杆跳高冠军_比赛_姚捷_博凯". www.sohu.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  5. ^ "钟涛:中国男子撑杆跳高的新星,具有爆发力好、个人能力较强优势". www.163.com (in Chinese). 22 March 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12905861". Tilastopaja.
  7. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12918493". Tilastopaja.
  8. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12932454". Tilastopaja.
  9. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12988882". Tilastopaja.
  10. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #13004456". Tilastopaja.
  11. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #13029087". Tilastopaja.
  12. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #13041429". Tilastopaja.
  13. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #13061605". Tilastopaja.

Notes

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  1. ^ In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhong.
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