Pole Vault is a track and field athletic event in which the athlete jumps over a horizontal crossbar by sprinting along a runway and jamming a flexible long pole against a stop board at the center of the base of the uprights. Pole vaulting (for distance) dates back to the 16th century when poles were used to pass over natural obstacles in the Netherlands and across other areas in the UK. Modern pole vaulting was originated around 1850 in Germany when the sport was adopted by a gymnastic club. Initially, poles made of bamboo or aluminium were used, but in the early 1950s, vaulters began to use flexible poles made of fiberglass or carbon fiber. The sport was included in the Summer Olympics since its inception in 1896.