Zhong Tao

Zhong Tao
Personal information
Native nameChinese: 钟涛
Nationality China
Born12 August 2002 (22 years, 140 days old)[1]
Home townTongling, Anhui, China[1][2]
Sport
SportSport of athletics
EventPole vault
Achievements and titles
National finals
Personal best(s)PV:
5.75m (2024)

LJ:
6.92m (−0.5) (2020)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  China
Asian U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Hong Kong Pole vault
Asian Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Tehran Pole vault
Updated on 6 April 2024

Zhong Tao[a] (Chinese: 钟涛; born 12 August 2002) is a Chinese pole vaulter. He became a national indoor champion in 2024 and then won the gold medal at the Asian Indoor Championships.

Career

Zhong earned his first international title in 2019, winning the Asian U18 Championships. He also equaled the championship record of 5.00 metres.[1]

After finishing 4th and 7th at the 2021 Chinese championships and National Games, Zhong improved his best to 5.61 m in May 2023, qualifying him for the 2023 World Athletics Championships. At those World Championships, Zhong finished 18th overall and did not qualify for the final.[1]

At the 2024 Astana Indoor Meeting, Zhong finished 3rd in the pole vault.[3] He won his first national title at the 2024 Chinese Indoor Athletics Championships, beating Huang Bokai and Yao Jie in an anticipated match-up.[4] At the 2024 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, Zhong became Asian champion as he jumped 5.65 m, 0.05 metres better than the field.[1]

Zhong finished tied for 4th at the 2024 Xiamen Diamond League.[1]

Personal life

Zhong is from Tongling, Anhui, China. He attended Yangjiashan Elementary School, where he began to train for athletics.[1][5][2] He has been described as the "big brother" of the Chinese pole vaulting world.[4]

Statistics

Personal best progression

Pole Vault progression
# Mark Pl. Competition Venue Date Ref.
1 4.60 m 2nd place, silver medalist(s) National Grand Prix, Youth Olympic Games Trials Zhuzhou, China 16 Apr 2018 [6]
2 5.00 m 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) National Indoor Grand Prix Nanjing, China 18 Feb 2019 [7]
4 5.15 m 2nd place, silver medalist(s) National Youth Games Luoyang, China 27 Jun 2019 [8]
5 5.40 m 4th Chinese Athletics Championships Shaoxing, China 12 Jun 2021 [9]
6 5.45 m 1st place, gold medalist(s) CAA Training Base Indoor Permit Meeting Nanjing, China 4 Mar 2022 [10]
7 5.50 m 1st place, gold medalist(s) National Indoor Grand Prix Jinan, China 15 Feb 2023 [11]
8 5.61 m 4th National Grand Prix Taizhou, Jiangsu, China 25 May 2023 [12]
9 5.75 m 1st place, gold medalist(s) Chinese Athletics Championships Tianjin, China 28 Mar 2024 [13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Zhong Tao at Tilastopaja (registration required)
  2. ^ a b "冠军之路钟涛的励志成长故事_世界_训练_比赛". www.sohu.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  3. ^ Shakeel, Maleehah (27 January 2024). "Astana Indoor Meet: Mondo Duplantis Roars Over Kazak Turf With First Pole Vault Gold for 2024". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b "田径-全国室内锦标赛：钟涛获男子撑杆跳高冠军_比赛_姚捷_博凯". www.sohu.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  5. ^ "钟涛：中国男子撑杆跳高的新星，具有爆发力好、个人能力较强优势". www.163.com (in Chinese). 22 March 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12905861". Tilastopaja.
  7. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12918493". Tilastopaja.
  8. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12932454". Tilastopaja.
  9. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12988882". Tilastopaja.
  10. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #13004456". Tilastopaja.
  11. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #13029087". Tilastopaja.
  12. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #13041429". Tilastopaja.
  13. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #13061605". Tilastopaja.

Notes

  1. ^ In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhong.