A 13-year-old cleared his own world record three separate times in a single afternoon. At the Ukrainian Team Track and Field Championship in Lviv, pole vaulter Omelyan Herasymchuk pushed the U13 world best up to 4.70 meters — and he wasn't finished improving until his very last attempt.

  • 4.70 m — Herasymchuk's new U13 world record clearance
  • 3 world records broken in a single competition
  • 20 cm total improvement over his previous best of 4.50m, set in May 2026
  • 13 years old, born December 2012

Three Records in One Afternoon

Herasymchuk was competing at Arena SKIF in Lviv among athletes born in 2009 and later, as part of the Ukrainian Team Track and Field Championship for physical education and sports institutions. He had already held the previous U13 world record at 4.50 meters, set back in May.

This time, he didn't stop at matching it. On his second attempt, he cleared 4.55 meters, breaking his own record immediately. On his third attempt, he pushed it further to 4.67 meters for a second new record. Then, on his next attempt, he cleared 4.70 meters for a third world record in the same competition — improving his own mark by 5 centimeters, then 12 more, then a final 3.

How the Bar Kept Rising

Herasymchuk's result is documented on his official World Athletics profile, which now lists 4.70 meters as his personal best, achieved October 3, 2026, at Arena SKIF in Lviv.

The Ukrainian Athletics Federation, which organized the championship, confirmed the progression and noted that Herasymchuk continues to compete in his age group with room left to keep improving — he won't age out of the U13 category for roughly another year.

Herasymchuk improved his own world record three times in a single competition — first by 5 centimeters, then by 12 more, then by a final 3 — a rare feat at any age, let alone 13.

For context on how far Herasymchuk still has to climb: the adult world record, held by Sweden's Armand Duplantis, stands at 6.31 meters outdoors. The U18 outdoor record, held by France's Sasha Joya, is 5.56 meters. At 4.70 meters and only 13 years old, Herasymchuk is already closing in on marks set by vaulters several years his senior.

What's Next

Herasymchuk isn't the only young Ukrainian athlete making headlines this season. Vyacheslav Surkis, son of Dynamo Kyiv president Igor Surkis, recently became the record-holder for most matches played in the Ukrainian Youth Soccer Championship, reaching 100 appearances in the tournament.

For Herasymchuk, the next milestone is simply staying healthy and consistent as he keeps moving up through age categories. Pole vault careers are often won on technique and timing as much as raw power, and a 13-year-old who can already improve his own world record three times in one competition has shown he has both in abundance. Coaches and fans in Ukraine's athletics program will be watching closely to see how high he goes next season — and whether the U14 and U15 world records are his next targets.