Kyle Rademeyer surpasses his own expectations in Glasgow

The 24-year-old admitted that he did not arrive at the Games expecting to challenge for a medal. 

His main goal was simply to clear a respectable height, enjoy the competition, and return home with a smile.

Rademeyer produced the performance of his life to also clear 5.85m, earning silver on countback, while English pole vaulter Owen Heard took bronze with 5.70m.

Rademeyer was not considered one of the pre-event favourites, but he focused on giving his best effort and that approach paid off with a place on the podium. The achievement left him almost speechless. 

"Every competition I enter I try to give my best and I'm proud of what I was able to achieve."

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The former World Under-20 Championships bronze medallist and 2024 African champion could not hide his emotions after collecting South Africa’s 28th medal of the Commonwealth Games.

Overwhelmed with joy, the Paarl-born athlete described the silver medal as one of the proudest moments of his career.

"My emotions are all over the place right now especially considering this is my season's best, I can't ask for anything better than that. I'm very thankful and very happy," said the pole vault star.

Rademeyer believes his best years are still ahead of him. Pole vaulters often improve with age, strength, and experience, and he is confident that at 24 years old he still has plenty of room to grow.

With the World Championships in China next year and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles on the horizon, Rademeyer hopes this breakthrough performance is only the beginning.

He believes continued hard work and maturity can help him develop into one of the world’s leading pole vaulters in the years to come.