CLEVELAND — Katie Moon, a pole vaulter, is one of the many Olympians competing in the Olympics. Moon got her start in this sport in Olmsted Falls.

What You Need To Know

  • Katie Moon, from Olmsted Falls, is looking to earn her second gold medal 

  • Moon began pole vaulting at age 12 and competed for Olmsted Falls High School 

  • She won her first gold medal in Tokyo and is looking to earn another one during the Paris Olympics 

“I’m so proud to be from Olmsted Falls, from Cleveland. They have been just unbelievably supportive at every step of my career,” she said.

Moon first pole vaulted at 12-years-old and won her first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. John Novotny, the head track and field coach for Olmsted Falls, expressed that all the pictures hanging of Moon in the hallways will inspire other students at the school.

“It’s a big accomplishment for the whole school to be proud of,” he said.

Moon graduated as a Bulldog in 2009, and she has continued to return over the years. She held a pole vault classic at the school in June. Novotny said that multiple professional pole vaulters came to Cleveland to compete.

“It was a great turnout from the crowd. They loved it right there, and it was just her way of giving back to the community that she’s always been real proud of,” he said.

For Moon, being able to be an athlete for Clevelanders to look up to means a lot to her.

“I know what it’s like to cheer for athletes from Cleveland. Browns, the Cavs, Guardians, I grew up, so just to know that somebody feels that way about me, that a kid feels that way about me and I can give them some sense of excitement, that’s just so incredible, that’s what makes it fun,” she said.

There’s a watch party for Katie Mood at Suds Maguires in Berea on Aug. 7.