Rolando Cruz

Last updated
Rolando Cruz
Personal information
BornSeptember 17, 1939 (1939-09-17) (age 86)
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1959 Caracas Pole vault
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1962 Kingston Pole vault
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1966 San Juan Pole vault
Ibero American Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1960 Santiago Pole vault
Pan American Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1959 Chicago Pole vault

Rolando Cruz (born September 17, 1939, in Salinas, Puerto Rico) is a former pole vaulter from Puerto Rico. He trained under Jimmy Curran at Mercersburg Academy and Jim 'Jumbo' Elliott at Villanova University. [1] [2] He competed for his native country in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1956 and was the flag bearer for Puerto Rico in the 1964 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. [3] He is a three-time gold medalist at the Central American and Caribbean Games: 1959, 1962 and 1966.

Contents

His personal best in pole vault was 4.96 metres set in 1964. His brother, Rubén Cruz, was also a pole vaulter. [4]

Cruz later became a lawyer and president of a life insurance company. From 1977 to 1981 he served as Commissioner Of Insurance of Puerto Rico.

International competitions

YearCompetitionVenuePositionNotes
Representing Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
1956 Olympic Games Melbourne, Australia 16th (q) 4.00 m
1959 Central American and Caribbean Games Caracas, Venezuela 1st4.40 m
Pan American Games Chicago, United States 3rd 4.32 m
1960 Olympic Games Rome, Italy 4th 4.55 m
Ibero-American Games Santiago, Chile 1st4.35 m
1962 Central American and Caribbean Games Kingston, Jamaica 1st4.72 m
Ibero-American Games Madrid, Spain 1st4.50 m
1964 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 21st (q) 4.50 m
1966 Central American and Caribbean Games San Juan, Puerto Rico 1st 4.54 m
1967 Central American and Caribbean Championships Xalapa, Mexico 1st4.50 m

References

  1. ↑ Curran is Given Trip to Europe, Morning Herald (Hagerstown), January 23, 1960
  2. ↑ Puerto Rican Vaulter Eyes Finn's Mark, Hutchison News, February 4, 1963
  3. ↑ "Rolando Cruz". olympedia.org. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  4. ↑ Cuevas, Luis Romero (18 June 1966). "Heriberto y Rolando Cruz en 400 vallas y pértiga; Cuba 1ro. con 34 puntos". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 November 2025.


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