Katie Moon recently spoke about a condition that pole vaulters experience, likening it to Simone Biles’ “twisties.” Moon explained that this condition can cause a disconnect between an athlete’s mind and body, making it difficult to perform jumps. She compared it to what Biles went through, describing it as a “vaulting block” that can leave athletes frozen in a moment of uncertainty.
Moon, a two-time Olympic medalist, won gold in pole vaulting at the 2020 Tokyo Games with a clearance of 4.90 meters, surpassing Anzhelika Sidorova and Holly Bradshaw, who both cleared 4.85 meters. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she secured a silver medal, finishing behind Australia’s Nina Kennedy. Moon has also claimed two consecutive world championships in her career.
Despite her success, Moon has faced numerous challenges, including the mental disconnection she described. During a recent episode of the podcast “I’ll Have Another with Lindsey Hein” on October 11, Moon opened up about the mental blocks she encountered, stating that athletes sometimes experience a “deer in the headlights” moment, where they freeze and are unable to complete their vault, despite there being no physical injury or reason for it. She admitted that she has dealt with this issue at various stages in her career and expects it may continue to linger, which she finds frustrating, especially since no major incident triggered it.
In an interview with Olympics.com on September 4, Moon shared her feelings about winning a silver medal at the Paris Games after enduring an injury-filled season. She expressed disappointment at not being able to defend her Olympic title but was relieved and happy with her performance, given that she had been battling an Achilles injury. Moon said she was grateful her body held up during the competition, which allowed her to perform well. She felt confident that she could achieve something great if her body cooperated, and she was pleased with the result.
Looking ahead, Katie Moon is set to compete in the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
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