Dragila took women's pole vault to new levels during 2001, breaking the world record six times and the indoor world record on three occasions before clinching the world title at Edmonton in August.
She vaulted 4.63 metres in New York in February before setting new marks at 4.65 and 4.70 in Pocatello in April. Excelled again in Palo Alto on June 9, shattering the world record twice with vaults of 4.71 and 4.81. In Edmonton, however, she had to work extremely hard for her second world title as Russia's Svetlana Feofanova matched her height for height in an epic duel. Eventually she retained the title on a countback after both women failed three times with an attempt on the American's world record of 4.81 metres. Last November, she was named women's Athlete of the Year by the IAAF.
