Kathryn Elizabeth Moon (Katie Moon), 32, is an American professional athlete, specializing in pole vaulting. She shared gold medals with Australian Nina Kennedy in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2022 World Athletics Championships, and the 2023 World Athletics Championships. She also earned a silver medal at the 2022 World Indoor Championships. Moon also won a silver medal at the 2019 Pan American Games. She is also eligible for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Katie Moon qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024
Katie Moon has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics because of her great achievements and performance in pole vaulting. As the best women’s pole vaulter in the world, she met the entry requirement of 4.73 meters, securing her spot as one of the three athletes representing the United States in the women’s pole vault event.
Additionally, she kept her position as the defending Olympic champion and two-time reigning world champion, further confirming her qualification for the Paris Olympics 2024. Moon, the current Olympic and world champion in pole vault, spoke about excelling in a sport, the need to take breaks, and her thoughts as she goes into the Paris Olympics as the defending champion.
Katie Moon will arrive in Paris to repeat what she did in Tokyo three years ago: Win the Olympic gold in pole vault. However, she is not letting her title as defending champion add too much pressure.
“I know I can’t win every single time, but the fact that I was able to prove myself on the most important day gives me confidence.”
says the American, also the two-time reigning world champion.
As the international event ambassador for the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024 in Mumbai, Moon explains the mindset of a champion and the message she wants to send to young girls through her achievements.
Katie Moon’s Early Life, Family, and Education
Katie Moon was born on June 13, 1991, in Lakewood, Ohio. Her birth name was Kathryn Elizabeth Nageotte. She currently lives in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. Her parents are Mark and Diane Nageotte. After her father passed away, her mother raised Katie and her two siblings Emily and Andy. Katie is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 135 pounds.
Katie went to Olmsted Falls High School. After high school, Katie started her college at Ashland University.
Katie Moon is happily married to her husband Hugo Moon
Katie Moon, previously known as Kathryn Elizabeth Nageotte, has a heartwarming love story with her husband, Hugo Moon. They got married on December 31, 2022, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel during a joyful New Year’s Eve celebration.
Katie and Hugo first met each other in Pullman, Washington in 2018. They connected through the dating app Tinder, and their love grew, leading to their joyful marriage ceremony on New Year’s Eve 2022. Even though they don’t have children yet, they share the love and company of their pet dog.
Hugo Moon is originally from England. He has an impressive background in the sport of rowing. During his junior and senior years in high school, Hugo shined as a coxswain and competed with Bedford School’s top rowing crew. Hugo’s coaching career began by working with young boys at Canford School. Later, he moved to Warwick University, where he helped the women’s rowing team achieve success and set a club record.
Following his coaching goals, Hugo eventually moved to Gainesville after spending two years at Washington State University. While at WSU, he coached the university’s women’s club rowing team and also pursued a master’s degree in sports management.
Katie Moon’s Early Career starts as a diver and a gymnast
In high school, she was a diver and a gymnast. When she graduated from Olmsted Falls High School, she held the state record of 3.97 meters in pole vaulting. After high school, while at Ashland University., she won two NCAA Division II titles in pole vaulting.
At Ashland University, Katie was coached by Brad Walker. Brad Walker was an American pole vaulter. He held the American record and was the 2007 World Champion in pole vaulting.
In 2008 and 2009, Katie was the runner-up in the Division 1 state championships in pole vaulting in 2008, and then became the Division 1 state champion in 2009.
In 2010, she won two major championships – the GLIAC Outdoor Championships and the NCAA Outdoor Championships in pole vaulting. She cleared a height of 4.44 meters (14 feet 7 inches), showing her early talent in the sport.
In 2011, Katie took part in the Findlay Indoor Track & Field Classic event on January 28-29. She came in first place in the pole vault combined with the 400-meter event. Later that year on February 19, she came in second place at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track & Field Championships.
In 2013, Katie participated in various championships and events like the USATF Championships and the NCAA Division II championships. Notably, she was a two-time NCAA Division II pole vault champion and a three-time All-American during her college career.
In 2016, Katie took part in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials held from June 30 to July. She finished in second and fifth position in two different pole vaulting categories at that event.
Katie Moon’s Recent Years and Olympics
In 2018, Katie took part in the Clermont-Ferrand All-Star Perche competition in Clermont-Ferrand, France. She scored 1227 points and came in first place. That same year, she also competed at the US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she scored 1242 points and finished first.
In 2020, Katie competed at the American Track League Meet #4 held at the Life University Track & Field Stadium in Marietta, Georgia. She scored 1245 points and secured the first position.
In 2021, Katie Moon had a remarkably successful year in pole vaulting. She achieved her personal best height of 4.95 meters. Additionally, she won the prestigious Diamond League meeting and secured the top ranking in the women’s pole vault event.
Also Read: Paris Olympics Team USA Fencer Lee Kiefer Husband, Parents, and Age
Katie also competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, officially called the XXXII Olympic Games at the National Stadium in Tokyo. She scored 1239 points and won the gold medal. That year, she also won three other competitions – the American Track League meet in Marietta, Georgia, the Dwight Phillips Invite in Marietta, Georgia, and the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon.
In 2023, Katie continued her dominance by winning the USA Championships in Eugene, Oregon with 1239 points. She then went on to win the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary at the Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, again scoring 1239 points for the gold medal.
