{{short description|Australian pole vaulter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2011}} __NOTOC__'''Emma George''' (born 1 November 1974<ref name="WAprofile">{{cite web |title=Emma GEORGE – Athlete Profile |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/australia/emma-george-14272068 |website=World Athletics |access-date=1 January 2023}}</ref> in Beechworth, Victoria) is a former Australian pole vaulter. She held the world record from 30 November 1995 until 26 May 2000, setting a new record on twelve occasions, before being passed by Stacy Dragila. She was previously a trapeze artist in The Flying Fruit Fly Circus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turnbull |first=Simon |date=26 March 2023 |title=The year the women's pole vault took flight |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/women-in-athletics/news/george-dragila-bartova-women-pole-vault-1998 |access-date=26 March 2023 |website=World Athletics}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.worldathletics.org/news/preview/sevilla-99-preview-emma-versus-all-the-womens| title = Sevilla 99 Preview: Emma versus all the Women's Pole Vault}}</ref> She was coached by Mark Stewart, who also led Steve Hooker to Olympic gold{{fact|date=November 2024}}.
George competed in and won the Gladiator Individual Sports Athletes Challenge in 1995.
George suffered a fall while training for the 1999 Seville Championships. She then underwent a number of operations on her back before finally announcing her retirement in 2003.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/01/1070127348489.html?from=storyrhs| title = Pole-vault pioneer George retires at 29| date = 2 December 2003}}</ref>
==World records== *4.25 m - Melbourne, Australia 30 November 1995 *4.28 m - Perth, Western Australia 17 December 1995 *4.30 m - Perth, Western Australia 28 January 1996 *4.41 m - Perth, Australia 28 January 1996 *4.42 m - Reims, France 29 June 1996 *4.45 m - Sapporo, Japan 14 July 1996 *4.50 m - Melbourne, Western Australia 8 February 1997 *4.55 m - Melbourne, Australia 20 February 1997 *4.57 m - North Shore City, New Zealand 21 February 1998 *4.58 m - South Melbourne, Australia 14 March 1998 *4.59 m - Brisbane, Australia 21 March 1998 *4.60 m - Sydney, Australia 20 February 1999
==Achievements== {|{{AchievementTable|nation=AUS}} |- |rowspan=2|1997 |World Indoor Championships |Paris, France |bgcolor=silver|2nd |4.35 m |- |Universiade |Catania, Italy |bgcolor=gold|1st |4.40 m |- |rowspan=2|1998 |Goodwill Games |Uniondale, United States |bgcolor=silver|2nd |4.30 m |- |Commonwealth Games |Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |bgcolor=gold|1st |4.20 m |- |rowspan=2|1999 |World Indoor Championships |Maebashi, Japan |6th |4.35 m |- |World Championships |Seville, Spain |14th |4.15 m |- |2000 |Olympic Games |Sydney, Australia |15th (q) |4.25 m |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{sport links}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071018193747/http://www.athletics.com.au/history/athletes/athlete1250.htm Profile] at Athletics Australia * [http://lovetheoutdoors.com.au/about-emma/ Brief biography at her personal website]
{{s-start}} {{s-ach|rec}} {{succession box|before={{flagicon|CHN}} Sun Caiyun|title=Women's Pole Vault World Record Holder|years=30 November 1995 – 26 May 2000|after={{flagicon|USA}} Stacy Dragila}} {{s-end}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions Pole Vault Women}} {{Footer Universiade Champions Pole Vault Women}} {{Footer WBYP Pole Vault Women}} {{Footer Australia NC Pole Vault Women}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Emma}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Australian women pole vaulters Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic athletes for Australia Category:People from Beechworth Category:World record setters in the sport of athletics Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia Category:Commonwealth Games athletes for Australia Category:Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field) Category:Goodwill Games medalists in athletics Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for Australia Category:Trapeze artists Category:Medalists at the 1997 Summer Universiade Category:Competitors at the 1998 Goodwill Games Category:Medallists at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Category:Australian Athletics Championships winners Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics