“Jumping Over Boundaries”, the pole vault competition between Italy and Slovenia. Katie Moon is there

A leap between Italy and Slovenia, with the bar placed on the border between the two states. The athletes who cross it, symbolize the overcoming not only of the border, but also of their own limits. An event that combines sport and culture, which offers numerous food for thought. These are the premises of “Jumping Overcoming Boundaries”, a pole vault competition scheduled for Friday 25 July in Piazza della Transalpina-Trg Europe, that is, between the cities of Gorizia and Nova Gorica. The athletics meeting, organized by Libertas Udine on behalf of the Fvg Regional Committee of Coni, is part of the program of Go!2025 European Capital of Culture, fully embracing its project.

Ten athletes are expected, five men and the same number of women. The women's race is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m., the men's at 6:15 p.m. Also on the calendar is a collateral and promotional event called Just Jump, which sees the youngest athletes on the platform. The location chosen for "Jumping Overcoming Boundaries" is not accidental, because it is a meeting point between two cultures, which over time has become an emblem of collaboration between the Italian and Slovenian reality. In the past, however, the reality was different, because since 1947 the square represented the border between Italy and Yugoslavia and, moreover, the ideological division between two worlds, that of Western Europe and Eastern Europe. In 2004, with the entry of Slovenia into the European Union, the part of the wall (the so-called "Gorizia") that divided the Transalpina in two was torn down. With the pole vault test, the union of two peoples and the breaking down of borders is celebrated.

The competition is by invitation. A great specialist has already given her ok and will be one of the stars of the evening of Friday 25 July: it is the American Katie Moon, Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo 2021 and reigning world champion. This last title, obtained in Budapest, represents one of the symbols of fair play, as the jumper from Ohio wanted to share the success with the Australian Nina Kennedy. Both authors of 4.90, at the end of a course marked by the same number of errors, after the failed tests at 4.95 Moon instead of proceeding to the play-offs to decree the winner proposed to her rival to share the gold medal. An invitation that the "Aussie" specialist accepted. Born in 1991, with a personal best of 4.95, the American won the world title on her home track in Eugene in 2022 as well as the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Games. With 4.83 she also boasts the best outdoor world championship performance of the season.

The other athletes who will take part in the race will be announced soon and will make up a very high-level cast.