The Russian had won all major titles since the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, but she has been out of form so far this season and failed to clear her final height of 4.80 meters.

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For Eaton, or any decathlete competing for a medal, the trick is getting through the pole vault, a dastardly maneuver that can spell doom if he can't manage to at least clear the bar at an opening height.

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It was pushed to this height recently to take it clear of residual air molecules at the top of the atmosphere that tend to drag it downwards over time.

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The prize for the highest throw of the day, if not the year, went to Sam Wilkinson, who lifted the hefty Tom March over head height, nearly fell over backwards, but managed to twist clear as gravity re-asserted itself.

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