Pole vaulting has been a sport for a very long time, and is a fixture of every World Championships and Olympics. Many of us enjoy watching the sport on television, but few of us (outside of enthusiasts) could name a prominent pole vaulter. Allison Stokke changed all that.
Fame arrived early in her career - when the first pictures of her were circulated, she was still learning the trade as an amateur. She hadn't even decided whether to make a career out of the sport.