Team USA is leading the medal count at this year’s Olympics, and we all have the hard-working athletes to thank who have been securing these victories for their country. Katie Moon is also among the prestigious names who have been trying their best to score for the United States. If you don’t know the athlete yet, then we have got you covered.

Katie Moon is the only hope that Team USA has of acquiring a medal in the Women’s Pole Vault event, and it looks like the supporters of the team are in safe hands as she is a returning Olympic champion.

How did it all start for Katie Moon?

The female American athlete was born in Ohio on June 13, 1991, to Mark Nageotte and Diane Nageotte. Her passion for sports first allowed her to explore diving before she finally found a passion for pole vaulting. This happened before Moon graduated from Olmsted Falls High School, because it was then that she set a state record for 3.97 meters with her impressive vault.

She pursued higher education at the University of Dayton. Later on, Moon transferred to Ashland University. However, a higher education didn’t mean that she gave up her passion for vaulting. On the contrary, this is where her career started gaining traction.

The vaulter won two NCAA Division II national titles during her time in college. 2013 is when the 33-year-old finally started representing Team USA on an international level. Shortly after this achievement, she set a new record for herself when she finally cleared 4.90 meters of vault. But these aren’t the only set of victories that Katie Moon can flex when talking about her career.

Katie Moon’s achievements and additional details

The female athlete who competes for the Stars and Stripes was coached by Brad Walker, who himself has been a pole vaulter for Team USA. Moon is 5’8″ tall and currently weighs around 135 lbs. She secured several achievements while building her legend as a competent pole vaulter. Apart from displaying her prowess in the NCAA, Moon has also been a dominant face at the World Championships. She participated in the 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023 championships. Out of these, Katie Moon won the gold medal during the 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships and also bagged silver at the 2022 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

The portfolio that she was building for herself all this time led her into the good books of the American Olympics Committee. She was picked as a part of the Olympic team for the first time in 2020 for the Summer Games to be held in 2021 in Tokyo. This is where Moon proved that she is a force to be reckoned with, as she was able to bring gold to her home country. This year, in Paris, she is defending her spot against a fierce lineup of athletes from around the world. But looking at her hard work and career achievements until now, you may have gained confidence in her.

Do you believe that Katie Moon will bag the gold for the Women’s Pole Vault this year?