Ahead of the game
Stokke quickly revealed that she was no ordinary pole vaulter. She was a remarkable kid with incredible potential, and her talents would only develop with time.
In the same year that she cleared 12 1/2 feet and won the U.S. title, she raised the bar even higher, going nearly a foot taller. It was unheard of for a girl her age to be so accomplished, but she wasn’t finished shattering records yet. The next year, she outdid herself and reached heights of just under 13 feet.