Diva Renatta Jayadi Ready to Jump Higher

Running, jumping, looking up at the sky, and then challenging gravity while propelling their bodies upward. That is pole vaulting, a sport in which the athletes know there is a limit waiting above, yet they continue to push themselves higher. The rules are simple: those who can jump and clear the highest bar are the winners.

The pole vaulting athlete from Indonesia, Diva Renatta Jayadi, wishes to savor the essence of the sport she has known since childhood. The athlete, who became acquainted with pole vaulting even before she could jump, is now ready to continue soaring higher, both literally and metaphorically.

Therefore, when the sun was at its peak at the DKI Jakarta Student Sports Training Center in Ragunan, South Jakarta, on Wednesday (24/11/2025) afternoon, Diva was actually on the field. She stood defiantly against the sun, choosing to train earlier than other athletes for optimal results at the SEA Games in Thailand 2025, from December 9 to 20.

"Indeed, I have already set a national record. But, is it only enough to be the best in Indonesia? I also want to be the best internationally and achieve good results on the international stage," said Diva, who is trained by her father, Nunung Jayadi, a gold medalist in pole vaulting at the 1999 SEA Games in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Diva is the national record holder for the women's pole vault. With a jump height of 4.30 meters, the daughter of Nunung Jayadi and former national hurdler Dedeh Erawati is currently the best female pole vaulter in Indonesia.

Diva reached a height of 4.30 meters at the International Pole Vault Championship in Taiwan, at Sun Moon Lake, last March. The 23-year-old athlete jumped higher while also sharpening the national record in her name, which was set at the Aceh-Sumut 2024 PON with a height of 4.20 meters.

There's a certain sense of irritation. I feel like I want to prove that I can win a medal this time.

However, Diva realizes that breaking the national record is not enough. In training, she pushes herself to reach jumps of 4.40 meters and 4.50 meters. Diva needs to jump even higher because she must achieve a better position than before.

Diva's dream is to qualify for the Olympics through the qualification route. To reach the Olympics, the highest level, she must first succeed in the initial level sports event, namely the SEA Games. At the very least, the athlete who previously competed in the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympics aims to win a medal, fulfilling her eagerness and curiosity by performing brilliantly in Thailand.

"There is a sense of urgency, certainly. I feel like I want to prove that I can win a medal this time," said Diva, who won a gold medal at the ASEAN University Games 2022.

The feeling of frustration arose because in the previous two participations, Diva returned empty-handed. During her debut at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, Diva could only finish in fourth place with a jump of 3.80 meters. She lost to the bronze medalist, Khabut Chonthicha (Thailand), who achieved a jump of 4 meters.

Three years later, Diva was actually ready to avenge the "grudge." However, due to quota limitations, Diva was not included in the SEA Games Vietnam 2021, which was postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In fact, Diva's chances of bringing home a medal are wide open in Vietnam. The gold medalist, Nor Sarah Adi (Malaysia), only reached a height of 4 meters. Moreover, Alyana Nicolas (Philippines) only managed to reach a height of 3.60 meters to secure the silver, which is lower than Diva's achievement when she placed fourth in the Philippines.

The opportunity has arisen again at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games. Diva arrives more mature. Her abilities have also improved. Moreover, the gold medalist at the 2018 Asian Youth Games has the experience of having recorded a jump of 4.15 meters at the 2022 Thailand Open Championship.

However, in Cambodia, the medal has still not been claimed by Diva. Diva's jump of 4 meters is actually the same as that of Natalie Uy (Philippines), who ultimately secured the bronze. In the event of a tie, the athlete with the fewest failures at that height is declared the winner. Uy recorded fewer failures.

"Just as at the global level, the Southeast Asian level is also competitive in the women's category. The winners can alternate. Sometimes there are surprises as well. However, I am just trying to prepare my mentality," said Diva.

On paper, Diva is superior to her current competitors. If using her best record now, Diva surpasses the achievement of the gold medalist in Cambodia 2023, Khabut Chonthicha (Thailand) at 4.05 meters.

Diva also surpassed Chonthicha's personal best record of 4.10 meters this year, which was set at the same event when Diva broke the record, the Taiwan International Pole Vault Championship. Chonthicha ranked third while Diva secured the gold medal.

Diva is also better than another Thai mainstay, Chayanisa Chomchuendee, who won silver in Taiwan with a height of 4.20 meters. Meanwhile, Nor Adi Sarah has not been recorded as active in international competitions since winning silver in Cambodia 2023.

Natalie Uy has also not been active in international tournaments since 2023. Diva stated that another competitor from the Philippines is Uy’s junior, Alyana Nicolas, whose personal record this year is 4 meters.

"The mentality referred to is no longer the competitive mindset of facing nervousness or fear of opponents, but rather the mentality of observing the weather later. Hopefully, the weather will be good, not rainy, with a light breeze. If it is like that, it will be safe, God willing (medal)," he stated.

In pole vaulting, the end of this series of athletic movements is to fall onto the mat. If the previous two participations are akin to the final movement in pole vaulting, Diva indeed needs to experience that fall in her journey.

However, after that fall, Diva had to jump even higher. A medal in Thailand awaited her…

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