Pole vaulter Lazaro Borges sees pole snap during qualification at the Olympic Stadium

Pole vaulter Lazaro Borges escaped uninjured this morning despite seeing his pole snap beneath him.

Attempting to vault a height of 5.35 metres, the Cuban made his approach as normal and planted his pole. Yet the fibreglass apparatus could not withstand the pressure and snapped into three pieces.

To audible gasps in the Olympic Stadium, Borges was sent flying backwards through the air. Fortunately, the 26-year-old was unharmed, although he did appear somewhat bemused.

And the incident appeared to distract the 2011 World Championship silver medallist, whose best vault of 5.50 metres saw him miss out on a place in the final.

The incident will evoke memories of Great Britain's two time Olympic gold medallist, Daley Thompson, who was involved in a similar incident at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.