Vladimir Polyakov

Vladimir Polyakov (Russian: Владимир Поляков; born April 17, 1960) is a retired pole vaulter who represented the Soviet Union and later Russia. On June 26, 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.