Kory Tarpening
- Born
- Feb 27, 1962 (64 years old)
- Birthplace
- Portland, United States
- Events
- Pole Vault
Kory Tarpenning is an American retired pole vaulter born on February 27, 1962, in Portland, Oregon. He is best known for finishing fourth at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, narrowly missing an Olympic medal in one of track and field's most technically demanding events.
Tarpenning competed at two consecutive Summer Olympics, first appearing at the 1988 Seoul Games before his fourth-place finish in Barcelona. His Olympic experience demonstrated his standing among the world's elite pole vaulters during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
His fourth-place Olympic finish represented both significant achievement and near-miss disappointment in a career that saw him compete against the best vaulters in the world. Tarpenning's longevity at the international level reflected mastery of the technical and athletic demands of pole vaulting.
As of Nov 3, 2026: Pole Vault 5.89 (#72 all-time), 1997 season best 5.65 (Sep 14, 1997) · 64 years old
Personal bests
WA points calculator →Progression
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | PV | 5.65 | – | Sep 14, 1997 | – |
| 1997 | PV Indoor | 5.75 | – | Feb 28, 1997 | USA Indoor Championships |
| 1996 | PV | 5.80 | – | Jul 3, 1996 | Lausanne (SUI) |
| 1995 | PV | 5.80 | – | May 14, 1995 | São Paulo (BRA) |
| 1994 | PV | 5.85 | – | Jun 4, 1994 | Eugene, OR (USA) |
| 1993 | PV | 5.75 | – | May 29, 1993 | San José (USA) |
| 1992 | PV | 5.86 | – | May 16, 1992 | Modesto, CA (USA) |
| 1991 | PV Indoor | 5.80 | – | Feb 8, 1991 | East Rutherford, NJ (USA) (i) |