How Good Is Liv Parnov

photos by Getty Images

Standing at just under 180cm tall, this athletic 17 year old is the youngest member of our 2012 London Olympics track and field team. And in the High-Flying discipline of pole vault, she has the desire and pedigree to cause an upset or two.

Liz Who?

The Parnov name has been known in the pole vaulting world for decades now. It was back in 1983 that Alex Parnov, current Australian pole vaulting head coach, stood down from the Russian World Championship team to let a young 19-year-old by the name of Sergey Bubka take his place. Bubka would go on to win gold in Helsinki and dominate the sport; to this day he still holds the pole vault world records for indoors and outdoors. Parnov progressed into coaching, where he has built an impeccable record: current world champion Steve Hooker is among this charges – and now his youngest daughter, Liz,

is climbing quickly up the rankings.

Seems there’s something about this Russian family and its desire to succeed, but Alex parries the suggestion. “I wouldn’t say it’s the Russian blood,” he says. “Though, we have got a history; it’s all about the genes.”

Liz’s great grandmother was an Olympian who grabbed a bronze medal at the Mexico Olympics in 1968 in the 400m; her aunty, Tatiana Grigorieva, claimed silver at the Sydney Olympics and brought pole vaulting to the attention of the Australian public. Her mum was an international hurdler and her great grand-father competed in the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Parnov tried her hand at netball and a number of other sports while at high school, but they never clicked. “I’ve never really done anything else ... Pole vault has always been my main focus. I just can’t imagine not doing it.”

“If she wanted to stop tomorrow, I wouldn’t get in the way. But it’s what makes her happy,” says Dad.

What’s Her Story?

It was 2010 when the pole vault world first got a glimpse of Parnov’s potential when she equalled her sister Vicky’s Australian junior record of 4.40m. She was appointed Australia’s Flag Bearer for the Youth Olympics in Singapore – and went on to finish second. Later in 2010, she travelled to New Delhi for the Commonwealth Games – her first senior international competition – and finished a respectable 11th. A second place in the World Youth Championships last year in France has made Parnov hungrier for a first place. She posted a personal best of 4.50m earlier this year which doubled as her first A qualifier for the London Olympics. “It was like a dream. It was one of my main goals this year, but I just didn’t know if it was achievable or not ... It should be a good season. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Who’s She Like?

Slim, tanned, blonde … It’s easy to suggest she’s very much like Aunty Tatiana, but Parnov emphasises that no two pole vaulters are the same. “Everyone is different. Even in our group of myself, Alana (Boyd) and my sister (Vicky), we all jump differently.” Having Hooker in her training squad has also helped shape Parnov into the mature 17-year-old she is today. “He’s my idol. He’s basically like a brother. We know everything about each other and I can’t believe just how lucky I am to be in this squad and training with such a legend.”

What Do They Say?

“Her technical model is as good as anybody else’s in the world. She’s a slim and light girl, but it will take two-to-three years till we’ll see her full potential.” ‒ Alex Parnov, Australian head coach

‒ Thomas Castleton