Niu Chunge Breaks Women’s Pole Vault Asian Record at 4.73m

Chinese pole vaulter Niu Chunge has broken the women’s pole vault Asian record, clearing 4.73 meters at the 2026 National Athletics Grand Prix in Bengbu, Anhui Province, on May 31. The 26-year-old athlete surpassed the previous record of 4.72m set by compatriot Li Ling in May 2019, ending a seven-year hold on the continental mark, according to Xinhua News.

Context

The previous Asian record of 4.72m was set by Li Ling at the 2019 Diamond League and had stood as one of the longest-standing marks in Asian women’s track and field. Li Ling, widely regarded as a legend in Chinese pole vaulting, had held the record throughout her career, making the generational transition to Niu Chunge a significant moment for Chinese athletics.

Niu Chunge, a native of Anhui Province, has been steadily climbing the ranks. She won a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 and set a personal best of 4.65m in May 2025. Her progression has been closely watched, with the Beijing News noting her consistent improvement over the past year.

Key Developments

The competition, held at the Bengbu Sports Center Stadium, featured 12 participants in the women’s pole vault final. Niu Chunge began her campaign at 4.30m, clearing the height on her first attempt to secure the championship early, as her competitors from Anhui and Shandong teams failed to advance beyond that mark.

She then cleared 4.50m and 4.66m with ease before setting her sights on the Asian record. On her first attempt at 4.73m, Niu cleared the bar cleanly, improving the record by one centimeter. The achievement was particularly notable as it came in her home province, adding a personal dimension to the historic jump.

Earlier in May, at the third leg of the Grand Prix in Chongqing, Niu had jumped 4.60m — then the year’s Asian best — and attempted but failed to break the record. As NetEase reported, her persistence paid off just weeks later in Bengbu.

Analysis

The record marks a clear generational shift in Chinese women’s pole vault. Li Ling’s 4.72m had stood since 2019, and Niu Chunge’s successful jump signals the arrival of a new standard-bearer for the event in China. Her performance also highlights China’s growing depth in technical track and field events beyond running disciplines.

At 4.73m, Niu’s jump qualifies her for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, scheduled for September in Japan. Having won bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, she now enters the competition as a strong medal contender with the continental record to her name.

However, the world record — set by Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva at 5.06m — remains significantly higher. Niu’s performance places her in the upper tier of Asian athletes, and the question now is whether she can continue to push toward the 4.80m mark and beyond on the international stage.

What’s Next

All eyes will be on Niu Chunge at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where she will aim to upgrade her bronze medal from the previous Games. Her steady trajectory — from 4.65m in 2025 to 4.73m in 2026 — suggests further improvement may be possible. Whether she can challenge world-class heights in the coming years remains an open question, but for now, Chinese athletics has a new Asian record holder to celebrate.