The pole vaulting facility will once again be the hotspot of the Helmut-Körnig-Halle: at the Sparkassen Indoor Meeting Dortmund on Sunday, February 8, 2026, spectators can look forward to an outstanding field of competitors in the men's competition. With Turkish record holder Ersu Şaşma, Germany's top jumper Torben Blech, Belgium's number one Ben Broeders, and German champion Gillian Ladwig, the field of participants promises to reach great heights.
The eye-catcher in the Dortmund pole vault is undoubtedly Ersu Şaşma. The 26-year-old has established himself among the world's best in recent years, winning bronze at the European Championships and reaching the finals at the Olympic Games and World Championships. In the summer of 2025, he set a new Turkish national record with a jump of 5.92 meters, impressively demonstrating his world-class talent. In Dortmund, Şaşma wants to confirm his strong form – and, ideally, launch another attempt at heights around 5.90 meters.
From a German perspective, many eyes are on Torben Blech. The 30-year-old, two-time Olympian and multiple medalist at German championships, has been one of the world's top pole vaulters for years. His personal bests of 5.86 meters indoors and 5.82 meters outdoors underscore his potential for reaching the very top. Most recently, Blech has repeatedly presented himself at international meetings as a “height hunter” who can thrill the audience.
Ben Broeders, Belgium's dominant pole vaulter, will also be coming to Dortmund. The multiple World and European Championship finalist has established himself among the international elite with personal bests of 5.85 meters outdoors and 5.82 meters indoors. The high-caliber quartet is completed by Gillian Ladwig. The athlete from Schweriner SC crowned his development last summer with the German championship title and a season's best of 5.65 meters. His personal best is even 5.72 meters.
“Ersu Şaşma, one of the best pole vaulters in Europe at the moment, is coming to Dortmund. Together with Torben Blech, Ben Broeders, and German champion Gillian Ladwig, we already have a field that makes heights beyond 5.70 meters absolutely realistic,” says Yoshi Müller, head of organization at LG Olympia Dortmund.
The Sparkassen Indoor Meeting Dortmund will once again be part of the World Athletics Indoor Tour – Bronze in 2026. For the athletes, it's not just about winning and chasing heights, but also about important points in the world rankings and momentum for the international highlights of the season. In addition to the pole vault, the men's program includes the 60-meter, 400-meter, 1500-meter, 60-meter hurdles, and long jump events, while the women's program includes the 60-meter, 200-meter, 800-meter, and triple jump events.
Tickets are already on sale at www.reservix.de and at all advance sales outlets connected to the Reservix system. Standing room tickets cost 10 euros, and there are two categories of seats available for 20 and 30 euros.
Ersu Şaşma leads international pole vault field
