Dmitri Markov (Belarusian: Дзьмітры Маркаў; born 14 March 1975 in Vitebsk, Byelorussian SSR) is a retired Belarusian-Australian pole vaulter. He is a former world champion and current Oceanian record holder.[2] His gold medal winning jump at the 2001 World Championships made him the third person ever (of seven, as of 2021) to clear 6.05 metres or 19 feet 10 inches.

Dmitri Markov
Personal information
Native nameДзьмітры Маркаў
NationalityAustralian
Born14 March 1975 (1975-03-14) (age 49)[1]
Vitebsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
Height182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight82 kg (181 lb)
Sport
Country
  • Belarus (1993–1998)
  • Australia (1999–2006)
SportAthletics
EventPole vault
Achievements and titles
Personal best6.05 metres or 19 feet 10 inches (2001)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Australia
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2001 Edmonton Pole vault
Silver medal – second place 1999 Seville Pole vault

Biography

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He originally competed for his birth country Belarus, but fell out with the Belarusian Athletics Federation and refused to compete for the country at the 1998 European Championships. He moved to Australia and was granted citizenship in 1999. He soon set a new Oceanian record in pole vault with 5.95 metres or 19 feet 6 inches having already jumped 6.00 metres or 19 feet 8 inches in 1998 while representing Belarus. He later improved the Oceanic record to 6.05 metres or 19 feet 10 inches, the third person ever to clear that height, as he won the 2001 World Championships.

His best Olympic performance was in 2000 when he finished fifth. His last major competition was the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, where he won the silver medal with a 5.60 metres or 18 feet 4 inches vault.

He was named Western Australian Sports Star of the Year in 2001. Dmitri was the South Australian 2005-2006 Open Male Athlete of the Year and inducted into the South Australian Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2012 he was inducted into the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame.

Dmitiri Markov announced his retirement in early 2007 due to chronic foot injuries. His last competition was the World Athletics Tour in Melbourne on 2 March 2007.[3]

His son Oleg Markov plays for Collingwood in the Australian Football League and has previously played for Gold Coast and Richmond after being drafted in the 2015 National Draft.[4]

Achievements

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Year Competition Venue Position Notes
Representing   Belarus
1994 World Junior Championships Lisbon, Portugal 2nd 5.50 m
1996 European Indoor Championships Stockholm, Sweden 1st 5.85 m
Summer Olympics Atlanta, United States 6th 5.86 m
Representing   Australia
1999 World Championships Sevilla, Spain 2nd 5.90 m
2000 Summer Olympics Sydney, Australia =5th 5.80 m
2001 World Championships Edmonton, Canada 1st 6.05 m
2003 World Championships Paris, France 4th 5.85 m
World Athletics Final Monte Carlo, Monaco 3rd 5.76 m
2006 Commonwealth Games Melbourne, Australia 2nd 5.60 m

Personal best

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  • Pole Vault: 6.05 metres or 19 feet 10 inches (2001)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Dmitri Markov Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  2. ^ IAAF.org Statistics - Area Outdoor Records - Men - Oceania
  3. ^ Hurst, Mike (28 February 2007). "Dmitri Markov to retire after Melbourne start to World Athletics Tour". IAAF. Retrieved 14 March 2007.
  4. ^ "Oleg Markov". Collingwood Football Club. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Men's Pole Vault Best Year Performance
2001
Succeeded by