Vladimir Polyakov, Russian pole vaulter

Vladimir Polyakov is a retired Soviet pole vaulter who represented the Soviet Union and later Russia. On 26 June 1981 he managed to clear 5.81 metres, beating Thierry Vigneron's six-day-old world record. Two years later Polyakov lost the record to Pierre Quinon, who jumped 5.82. Polyakov won a silver medal at the 1982 European Championships, and won the European Indoor Championships in 1983.