Olympic and world pole vault champion Katie Moon has expressed a calm confidence ahead of the Paris Diamond League meet set for Friday, June 20, at Stade Sébastien-Charléty.
Speaking at Thursday’s pre-event press conference, the American star opened up about her evolved mindset and how experience has brought peace to her performances.
“Now it’s really just about seeing how high I can jump,” Moon said. “That’s always been the goal, right? But at this point, everything is just kind of a cherry on top. I don’t feel the stress coming into competitions the way I used to when I was younger and trying to prove something.”
Pic – Instagram
At 34, Moon remains one of the most decorated women in pole vault history. She is a back-to-back world champion, the reigning Olympic gold medalist from Tokyo, and claimed silver at the Paris-hosted World Championships last year.
Reflecting on her growth, she added: “I’ve already proven to myself ,more than anyone, that I’m good at this. I was always quick to believe the bad, the negative. If I had a bad meet, I thought I was a bad vaulter. But that’s so wrong. The bad days are the flukes.”
Moon admitted she wished she’d had this relaxed outlook earlier in her career, but acknowledged that the pressure might have been part of what drove her to the top.
Rivalry against Sandi Morris
In Paris, Moon will renew her rivalry with fellow American Sandi Morris. A consistent podium finisher with Olympic and world silver medals, Morris remains one of the few athletes capable of pushing Moon to her limits.
Their matchups have become a familiar and thrilling feature on the Diamond League circuit. With both aiming to fine-tune ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo later this season, Friday’s contest promises another high-flying duel.