Vladimir Polyakov is a retired Soviet pole vaulter who represented the Soviet Union and later Russia. On 26 June 1981 he managed to clear 5.81 metres, beating Thierry Vigneron's six-day-old world record. Two years later Polyakov lost the record to Pierre Quinon, who jumped 5.82. Polyakov won a silver medal at the 1982 European Championships, and won the European Indoor Championships in 1983. Vladimir Polyakov (Soviet Union) set the men's pole vault world record of 5.81 m in Tbilisi, Soviet Union on June 26, 1981. It stood 2.2 years, until Pierre Quinon's 5.82 m on August 28, 1983. Wiki link