The Olympic pole vaulters got soaked because Rio staff forgot to cover the mat during a downpour

You wont learn this in pole vault school:XXThats the USAs Sam Kendricks in the mens final on right now. Whats different about this picture is Kendricks handstheyre in the air, palms outward.The unconventional finish is courtesy of a bit of an oversight by Olympics ground staff, who forgot to cover the mat during a big downpour before the event.So, as Chinas Xue Changrui was the unfortunate first to find out, competitors were suddenly landing on a giant sponge:XXThose who followed Xue were quick to protect their chalk-covered hands after his drenching.It had to be off-putting for Xue, but thankfully, he cleared the bar on his third attempt and is back on track in the final.Follow Business Insider Australia on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedInJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Here's why the Olympic diving pool turned green
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