Lisa Gunnarsson's Secret Career Shift: From Pole Vaulting Star to New York Professional

Lisa Gunnarsson was the prodigy expected to become Sweden's next pole vaulting star. Now, she is building a career in New York, having quietly retired from the sport.

"I have different ambitions today," she says.

Since Angelica Bengtsson retired and Michaela Meijer faced recurring injuries, there has been little news about women's pole vaulting in Sweden.

Until this year.

Johanna Duplantis, sister to Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, has had an incredible spring season, improving her personal best by 39 centimeters and becoming the best Swedish vaulter this year. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Kajsa Roth continues to make progress, ranking seventh globally among U20 vaulters this year.

These are encouraging developments for national coach Kajsa Bergqvist ahead of upcoming championships, but the Swedish team still misses a vaulter who should be at the peak of her career right now.

Lisa Gunnarsson, 25.

The Hidden Retirement of Prodigy Lisa

Gunnarsson made a huge breakthrough in her teens, setting a world record for U18 vaulters with a 4.50-meter jump at 17—a record surpassed by Amanda Moll in 2022 by one centimeter.

In 2017, Gunnarsson competed at the senior European Championships in Belgrade, finishing sixth, just one failed attempt at 4.55 meters away from a medal, beating several of today's top vaulters like Wilma Murto, Tina Sutej, and Angelica Moser.

Gunnarsson continued to progress, and in 2022, while competing for LSU in college, she became the third-best Swedish vaulter of all time with a 4.65-meter jump.

That summer, she represented Sweden at both the World Championships and the European Championships.

But since then, she hasn't competed. She faced back problems and chose to skip all competitions in 2023 and 2024. In a 2023 interview with the athletics federation, Gunnarsson didn't rule out a comeback in 2025, but that's not happening.

When Expressen reached her, Gunnarsson confirmed her pole vaulting career is over.

"I can say that even though I've considered trying again, I've accepted that it's over. I have different ambitions today."

Gunnarsson's New Life – Building a Career in New York City

So what happened? In the summer of 2022, she left LSU but wanted to continue her studies. She moved to Stanford to pursue a master's in mechanical engineering. Despite her injury issues, there were other challenges after the move.

"I continued training but didn't have the same conditions for elite sports as I had at LSU. It was difficult for me, but I couldn't say no to Stanford when I got in. I really wanted it and felt that the education could be very beneficial for me throughout my life."

Now, Gunnarsson's logical side is taking over. She explains that she started calculating her chances of becoming a successful pole vaulter compared to her chances of succeeding in a civilian career.

"I loved pole vaulting; it was my passion. As a little girl, my dream was to become one of the best in the world. At the same time... I saw someone like Mondo doing extremely well, but there was a big risk I wouldn't be as good. Pursuing athletics was 'high risk, high reward,' so I reviewed my options."

She chose a civilian career.

Today, she works as a consultant and engineer in New York City and is happy with her life.

"I was happy at Stanford, and I was happy when I finished school. Now I'm in New York, and everything here is an experience. I miss pole vaulting, but I feel I made the right decision."

Gunnarsson says she has had sporadic contact with Kajsa Bergqvist in recent years. She never told the Swedish national team she would never compete again, but now that door is closed.

"Now I've accepted that I'll never return to a professional sports career."

What are your fondest memories?

"The European Championships in Belgrade where I came fifth, set a personal record, and was close to a medal, that competition stood out. Even though I didn't win, everything felt so good. That and the 2016 Globe Gala where I jumped a youth world best of 4.49, that stands out for me."

And, of course, being the second-best youth vaulter of all time.

"That's something to be proud of," says Gunnarsson.