Latvian Pole Vaulter Wins in France: Valters Kreišs Takes Gold
- Valters Kreišs continues to cement his position as Latvia’s premier pole vaulter, recently securing a victory at the “Perch’Xtrem” international competition in Cana, France on February 1st.
- The competition, held over two days – Friday and Saturday – saw Kreišs compete against a field of elite athletes.
- Following his winning jump, Kreišs attempted to clear 5.77 meters and twice tried 5.83 meters, but was unsuccessful.
Valters Kreišs continues to cement his position as Latvia’s premier pole vaulter, recently securing a victory at the “Perch’Xtrem” international competition in Cana, France on . The Latvian record holder cleared 5.67 meters to take first place, marking his third-best result of the current season.
The competition, held over two days – and – saw Kreišs compete against a field of elite athletes. American Zakari Bradford won the competition on the first day with a leap of 5.90 meters. On , Kreišs faced competitors from 13 nations including France, Italy, Hungary, Great Britain, Ukraine, and Finland. He successfully cleared his opening height of 5.42 meters on his first attempt, and then secured the win with a 5.67-meter clearance on his second attempt.
Following his winning jump, Kreišs attempted to clear 5.77 meters and twice tried 5.83 meters, but was unsuccessful. The second-place finisher cleared 5.62 meters.
Kreišs currently holds the Latvian national record in the pole vault, achieving a height of 5.82 meters in Roubaix in , surpassing the previous record of 5.82 meters set by Aleksandrs Obižajevs in 1987. Prior to the competition in France, his best result of the season was 5.75 meters, achieved at the “Sportland” cup on .
The athlete was recognized as Latvia’s best track and field athlete in 2025, an honor he has received for three consecutive years.
Kreišs has gained significant international experience, competing in European and World Championships both indoors and outdoors. He has also achieved success at the World University Games and other prestigious competitions. Notably, he qualified for the final at the Paris Olympics, finishing twelfth overall with a 5.70-meter clearance. This marked only the second time a Latvian pole vaulter had reached the Olympic final.
Despite suffering a foot injury – a broken heel – last year, Kreišs has successfully returned to competition. His recent victory in France demonstrates his continued form and resilience.
Currently ranked #30 in the world in the men’s pole vault, Kreišs has also achieved a top-8 finish at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. He secured a silver medal at the 2025 World University Games and a bronze medal at the 2025 European U23 Championships. He also finished sixth at the 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships, the highest finish achieved by a Latvian athlete at the Championships.
Kreišs began his athletic career in Riga, attending Rīgas sporta skola “Arkādija” and is currently coached by Mareks Ārents. He first won the Latvian national championship pole vault title in July 2023 in Valmiera.
Following his success in France, Kreišs will continue his season, preparing for upcoming starts and pursuing further goals. His consistent performance and national record demonstrate his dedication to the sport and his potential for continued success on the international stage.