Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault
The men's pole vault event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1948 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on July 31 and August 2. During the final, a rainstorm came in during the jumps at 4.10. All the jumpers at 4.20 and higher had to deal with wet conditions on the runway and with their poles. The final was won by American Guinn Smith. Erkki Kataja had held the lead with a perfect set of jumps until Smith's last attempt clearance of 4.30.Records
Prior to the competition, the existing World and Olympic records were as follows.
Schedule
All times are British Summer Time
Results
Qualifying round
Qual. rule: qualification standard 4.00m or at least best 12 qualified.
| Rank | Name | Nationality | Result | Notes |
| 1 | Guinn Smith | | 4.00 | Q |
| 1 | Erkki Kataja | | 4.00 | Q |
| 1 | Bob Richards | | 4.00 | Q |
| 1 | Erling Kaas | | 4.00 | Q |
| 1 | Ragnar Lundberg | | 4.00 | Q |
| 1 | Boo Morcom | | 4.00 | Q |
| 1 | Hugo Göllors | | 4.00 | Q |
| 1 | Valto Olenius | | 4.00 | Q |
| 1 | Joe Barbosa | | 4.00 | Q |
| 1 | José Vicente | | 4.00 | Q |
| 1 | Victor Sillon | | 4.00 | Q |
| 1 | Allan Lindberg | | 4.00 | Q |
| 13 | Georges Breitman | | 3.90 | |
| 14 | Theodosios Balafas | | 3.80 | |
| 14 | Torfi Bryngeirsson | | 3.80 | |
| 16 | Luis Ganoza | | 3.70 | |
| 17 | Charles Bouvet | | 3.60 | |
| 17 | Richard Webster | | 3.60 | |
| 17 | Jaime Piqueras | | 3.60 | |
Final
| Rank | Athlete | Nationality | 3.95 | 4.10 | 4.20 | 4.30 | 4.40 | Result | Notes |
| Guinn Smith | | xo | xo | o | xxo | xpp | 4.30 | |
| Erkki Kataja | | o | o | o | xxx | | 4.20 | |
| Bob Richards | | o | xo | xo | xxx | | 4.20 | |
| 4 | Erling Kaas | | o | o | xxx | | | 4.10 | |
| 5 | Ragnar Lundberg | | o | xxo | xxx | | | 4.10 | |
| 6 | Boo Morcom | | o | pass | xxx | | | 3.95 | |
| 7 | Hugo Göllors | | xo | | | | | 3.95 | |
| 7 | Valto Olenius | | xo | | | | | 3.95 | |
| 9 | José Barbosa | | xxo | | | | | 3.95 | |
| 9 | José Vicente | | xxo | | | | | 3.95 | |
| 9 | Victor Sillon | | xxo | | | | | 3.95 | |
| 12 | Allan Lindberg | | xxx | | | | | 3.80 | |
