Potential energy can be converted into kinetic energy, a good example of this is when a pole-vaulter bends the pole during a leap. When the pole is bent the most, does it store elastic or gravitational potential energy? Question 7 options: Only gravitational potential energy because that is more powerful than elastic potential energy. It has neither elastic or gravitational potential energy. The pole stores elastic potential energy when the pole is bent because its shape is change from its natural shape and it will want to go back to its original form, just like a spring or stretched elastic material. The pole stores gravitational potential energy because it is bent from its natural shape when off the ground.