Athletics at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault

Last updated

Contents

Men's pole vault
at the Games of the XVI Olympiad
Bob Richards.jpg
Bob Richards (1950s)
Venue Olympic Park Stadium
Dates24 November (qualifying)
26 November (final)
Competitors19 from 12 nations
Winning height4.56 OR
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Bob Richards
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Silver medal icon.svg Bob Gutowski
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Bronze medal icon.svg Georgios Roubanis
Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece
  1952
1960  
Pathe Highlights TV-icon-2.svg
Pathe Highlights

The men's pole vault was an event at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Nineteen athletes from 12 nations competed. [1] The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The final was held on the third day of the track and field competition, on Monday November 26, 1956. [2] The event was won by Bob Richards of the United States, the nation's 13th consecutive victory in the event. Richards was the first (and, through 2016, only) man to successfully defend Olympic gold in the pole vault; he was also the first (and, through 2016, only) man to win three total medals in the event. For the second straight Games, the American team went 1–2, this time with Bob Gutowski taking silver. Georgios Roubanis's bronze was Greece's first pole vault medal since 1896, and Greece's first Olympic medal overall since 1920.

Summary

Bob Richards entered the competition as the defending champion and the best in the world, though he never managed to beat Dutch Warmerdam's world record of 4.77 m (15 ft 7+34 in) set back in 1942 throughout his career. Richards stayed in first place throughout the competition, with a first attempt clearance at every height up to 4.53m. It was not as easy for him in the qualifying round when Richards struggled at 4.00, well below his normal opening height, missing his first two attempts before clearing it on his last. By 4.35, there were only four athletes left; the three Americans George Mattos, Bob Gutowski and Richards, and UCLA trained Greek athlete Georgios Roubanis using a fiberglass pole in major international competition for the first time. Mattos was unable to get over 4.40m and the medalists were settled. All three cleared 4.50m on their first attempt, though by that point, Roubanis had two misses a lower heights and Gutowski had four. At 4.53m, again Gutowski and Richards cleared on their first attempt, but Roubanis couldn't get over the bar and had to settle for bronze. At 4.56 m (14 ft 11+12 in), Richards cleared it on his second attempt after his first miss of the competition. When Gutowski was unable to get over the height, Richards confirmed his title defense. No other man has ever defended the Olympic pole vault title, though Yelena Isinbayeva did defend the women's title in 2008 and several men returned to the Olympics to achieve silver after their gold. Richards was rewarded by being the face of Wheaties on their cereal box and was their spokesman until 1976 when Bruce Jenner became the next Olympic hero on the box. The following year, it was Gutowski who finally broke Warmerdam's record using a steel pole. Gutowski finished fourth at the 1956 Olympic Trials and only received his spot in Melbourne after Jim Graham was forced to withdraw with an injury.

Background

This was the 13th appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. The returning finalists from the 1952 Games were gold medalist Bob Richards of the United States, bronze medalist Ragnar Lundberg of Sweden, and ninth-place finisher George Mattos of the United States. Richards was the favorite to repeat; he had won the AAU championships in 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, and 1956, and the Pan-American championship in 1951 and 1955. Others expecting to content were Richard's teammates (Bob Gutowski and Mattos), as well as the 1950 and 1954 European champions, Lundberg and Eeles Landström respectively. [1]

Australia and Pakistan each made their first appearance in the event; Germany competed as the "United Team of Germany" for the first time. The United States made its 13th appearance, the only nation to have competed at every Olympic men's pole vault to that point.

Competition format

The competition used the two-round format introduced in 1912, with results cleared between rounds. Vaulters received three attempts at each height. Ties were broken by the countback rule; at the time, total attempts was used after total misses.

In the qualifying round, the bar was set at 3.70 metres, 3.85 metres, 4.00 metres, 4.10 metres, and 4.15 metres. All vaulters clearing 4.15 metres advanced to the final.

In the final, the bar was set at 3.70 metres, increased by 5 centimetres at a time until 4.50 metres, then by 3 centimetres at a time. [1] [3]

Records

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows.

World recordFlag of the United States.svg  Cornelius Warmerdam  (USA)4.77 Modesto, United States 23 May 1942
Olympic recordUS flag 48 stars.svg  Bob Richards  (USA)4.55 Helsinki, Finland 22 July 1952

Bob Richards beat his own Olympic record by a centimetre, winning with 4.56 metres.

Schedule

All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10)

DateTimeRound
Saturday, 24 November 195610:00Qualifying
Monday, 26 November 195613:30Final

Results

Key

Qualifying

All athletes passed at 4.10 metres.

RankAthleteNation3.703.854.004.15HeightNotes
1 George Mattos US flag 48 stars.svg  United States oo4.15Q
2 Vladimir Bulatov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union ooo4.15Q
Giulio Chiesa Flag of Italy.svg  Italy ooo4.15Q
Zbigniew Janiszewski Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland ooo4.15Q
5 Ragnar Lundberg Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden oooo4.15Q
Georgios Roubanis Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece oooo4.15Q
7 Bob Gutowski US flag 48 stars.svg  United States xoo4.15Q
8 Vitaliy Chernobai Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union xooo4.15Q
Zenon Ważny Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland xooo4.15Q
Anatoly Petrov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union oxoo4.15Q
11 Bob Richards US flag 48 stars.svg  United States oxxoo4.15Q
12 Eeles Landström Flag of Finland.svg  Finland oooxo4.15Q
Manfred Preußger Flag of Germany.svg  United Team of Germany oooxo4.15Q
Matti Sutinen Flag of Finland.svg  Finland oooxo4.15Q
15 Allah Ditta Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan xxoxoxxx4.00
16 Rolando Cruz Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico ooxxoxxx4.00
17 Bruce Peever Flag of Australia.svg  Australia ooxxx3.85
18 Peter Denton Flag of Australia.svg  Australia xooxxx3.85
Victor Sillon Flag of France.svg  France x--No mark

Final

Sutinen failed to make a successful jump in the final. All finalists passed all heights below 4.00 metres.

RankAthleteNation4.004.154.254.354.404.454.504.534.564.59HeightNotes
Gold medal icon.svg Bob Richards US flag 48 stars.svg  United States ooooooooxoxxx4.56 m OR
Silver medal icon.svg Bob Gutowski US flag 48 stars.svg  United States oooxoxoxxoooxxx4.53
Bronze medal icon.svg Georgios Roubanis Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece ooxoxooooxxx4.50
4 George Mattos US flag 48 stars.svg  United States oooxxx4.35
5 Ragnar Lundberg Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden ooxxx4.25
6 Zenon Ważny Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland oooxxx4.25
7 Eeles Landström Flag of Finland.svg  Finland oxoxxx4.25
8 Manfred Preußger Flag of Germany.svg  United Team of Germany oxoxoxxx4.25
9 Vladimir Bulatov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union xooxxx4.15
Giulio Chiesa Flag of Italy.svg  Italy xooxxx4.15
11 Anatoly Petrov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union oxoxxx4.15
12 Zbigniew Janiszewski Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland xoxoxxx4.15
13 Vitaliy Chernobai Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union oxxx4.00
Matti Sutinen Flag of Finland.svg  Finland xxxNo mark

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault was one of four men's jumping events on the Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics program in Tokyo. Qualification was held on 15 October 1964, with the final on 17 October. 32 athletes from 20 nations entered, with 2 not starting in the qualification round. The final lasted over seven hours, to date the longest competition in history. All finalists qualified at 4.60, however in the final five were unable to achieve the height again.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornelius Warmerdam</span> American pole vaulter (1915–2001)

Cornelius "Dutch" Warmerdam was an American pole vaulter who held the world record between 1940 and 1957. He missed the Olympics due to World War II, and retired from senior competitions in 1944, though he continued to vault into his sixties. He was inducted into the International Association of Athletics Federations Hall of Fame in 1974.

Robert Allen "Bob" Gutowski was an American athlete who competed mainly in the pole vault. He competed for the United States in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia in the Pole Vault where he won the silver medal behind Bob Richards' second consecutive gold medal, after finishing fourth in the US Olympic Trials and only getting to the games on the withdrawal of Jim Graham.

The men's pole vault at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea had an entry list of 21 competitors from 13 nations, with two qualifying groups before the final (15) took place on Wednesday September 28, 1988. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault was an event at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Thirty-seven athletes from 24 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Jean Galfione of France, the nation's second victory in the event. Igor Trandenkov took silver, the first medal for Russia in the pole vault in its first appearance as a separate delegation. Similarly, Andrei Tivontchik's bronze was the first for reunified Germany, though both East Germany and West Germany as well as the Unified Team of Germany had previously won medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1952 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault was an event at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. Twenty-eight athletes from 18 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The final was held on Tuesday July 22, 1952. The event was won by Bob Richards of the United States, the nation's 12th consecutive victory in the men's pole vault. Another American, Don Laz, took silver. Ragnar Lundberg's bronze was Sweden's first medal in the event since 1912.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The Men's Pole Vault was an event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. There were a total number of 34 participating athletes from 23 nations. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The qualification mark was set at 5.60 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault at the 2008 Summer Olympics took place on 20 and 22 August at the Beijing National Stadium. Thirty-eight athletes from 25 nations competed. The event was won by Steven Hooker of Australia, the nation's first medal in the men's pole vault. Russia took its third medal of the four Games since competing independently; including Russian vaulters for the Soviet Union and Unified Team, Russians had taken six medals in the last six Games. The bronze medal initially went to Denys Yurchenko of Ukraine, but was later stripped from him for doping offenses and reassigned to fourth-place finisher Derek Miles of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union had an entry list of 19 competitors from 10 nations. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The final was held on Wednesday July 30, 1980. The top twelve and ties and all those clearing 5.40 metres advanced to the final. The event was won by Władysław Kozakiewicz of Poland, the nation's second consecutive victory in the men's pole vault. His countryman Tadeusz Ślusarski, who had won the event four years earlier, became the fifth man to earn two medals in the event when he finished in a tie for silver. The other silver went to Konstantin Volkov and was the Soviet Union's first pole vault medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault event at the 2000 Summer Olympics as part of the athletics program was held at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday, 27 September, and Friday, 29 September. Thirty-six athletes from 22 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Nick Hysong of the United States, the nation's first victory in the event since its 16-Games streak ended. The American team also took silver, as Lawrence Johnson finished second. Russia's Maksim Tarasov became the seventh man to win multiple pole vault medals, and the second to do so under two different flags, adding a bronze to his 1992 gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1928 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault event at the 1928 Olympic Games took place on August 1. Twenty athletes from thirteen nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation was four. The event was won by Sabin Carr of the United States, for the nation's eighth consecutive victory in the men's pole vault. Americans William Droegemuller and Charles McGinnis won silver and bronze respectively, giving Team USA their second consecutive and third overall medal sweep in the Olympic pole vault event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1936 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on August 5, 1936. Thirty athletes from 21 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The final was won by Earle Meadows of the United States. It was the nation's tenth consecutive victory in the men's pole vault.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1948 Summer Olympics. Nineteen athletes from 10 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The competition was held on July 31 and August 2. During the final, a rainstorm came in during the jumps at 4.10. All the jumpers at 4.20 and higher had to deal with wet conditions on the runway and with their poles. The final was won by American Guinn Smith. Erkki Kataja had held the lead with a perfect set of jumps until Smith's last attempt clearance of 4.30. Smith's win was the United States' 11th consecutive victory in the men's pole vault. Kataja's silver was Finland's first medal in the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault field event at the 1960 Olympic Games took place on September 5 and September 7. Twenty-nine athletes from 20 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Don Bragg of the United States, the nation's 14th consecutive victory in the men's pole vault. Ron Morris took silver, making it three straight Games the American team had finished 1–2. Eeles Landström's bronze was Finland's first medal in the event since 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault was a competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. The event was held at the Olympic Stadium on 8–10 August. Thirty-two athletes from 23 nations competed. The event was won by Renaud Lavillenie of France, the nation's first victory in the event since 1996 and third overall. Björn Otto and Raphael Holzdeppe of Germany took silver and bronze, respectively; like France, it was the first time since 1996 that Germany reached the men's pole vault podium.

George Mattos was an American pole vaulter. He competed for his native country in two Olympics, 1952 when he finished 9th and 1956 when he finished 4th, both times behind American teammate Bob Richards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault field event at the 1972 Olympic Games took place on September 1 & 2. Twenty-one athletes from 12 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Wolfgang Nordwig of East Germany, the first non-American to win the event. Nordwig and silver medalist Bob Seagren were the third and fourth men to win multiple medals in the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault competition featured in the athletics programme at the 1976 Summer Olympics and was held at the Olympic Stadium in Montréal on 24 and 26 July. Twenty-seven athletes from 13 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault</span>

The men's pole vault was one of four men's jumping events on the athletics program at the 1968 Summer Olympics. The competition had two rounds, qualifying and a final, which were held on 14 and 16 October respectively at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City. Twenty-three athletes from 15 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Bob Seagren of the United States, the nation's 16th consecutive victory in the men's pole vault. Claus Schiprowski of West Germany took silver, while Wolfgang Nordwig of East Germany took bronze—the first medals for each of those nations as separate teams, though two West German vaulters had earned silver and bronze for the United Team of Germany in 1964.

The men's pole vault competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event was held at the Olympic Stadium between 13–15 August. Thirty-one athletes from 16 nations competed. Thiago Braz da Silva of Brazil won the gold medal, the nation's first medal in the men's pole vault. Renaud Lavillenie of France was unable to successfully defend his 2012 gold, but became the seventh man to win two medals with silver this time. Sam Kendricks's bronze returned the United States to the podium after a one-Games absence.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pole Vault, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  2. "Athletics at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games: Men's Pole Vault". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  3. Official Report, p. 330.