Living Large: John Large defies age

All things masters pole vaulting.

Moderators: Russ, vaultmd

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Living Large: John Large defies age

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Wed Jul 07, 2010 1:39 am

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/story. ... 2&catid=48


iving Large: Belding pole valuter defies age
Tom Clyde Matt Campbell
Updated:7/6/2010 6:43:51 PM - Posted: 7/6/2010 6:12:44 PM Comments


BELDING, Mich. (WZZM) - John Large of Belding has found the fountain of youth -- and it's come in the form of pole vaulting.

Large, a 1967 Greenville High School graduate, has rediscovered his passion for his high school sport.

Large held the Greenville school record in the pole vault for nearly a decade after graduating and says he would have liked to pursue a career in the sport. But service in Vietnam, followed by a 40-year career as a professional musician kept the dream from becoming reality.

Now a 62-year-old retiree, Large has a pole vault pit in the front yard of his Belding home and is a volunteer assistant coach for the Belding High School and Middle School track teams. And he competes at a national level, this year with the second-best indoor vault in his age group.

"I'd watch the Olympics and I'd see these guys and my heart would just pound because that was what I really wanted to do when I got out of high school," says Large. "Go to college, some small college and vault. But I went right into the service and obviously I didn't do it.

"But now," he adds with a smile, "it's my turn."

Large stays in extraordinary physical shape and says he rarely eats large meals. And he excercises every day.

"I mean it's like being 16 again and that's really why I do it," Large says. "It just keeps you young and I'm going to do it until I can't do it anymore."

User avatar
master
PV Lover
Posts: 1336
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 2:03 am
Expertise: Masters Vaulter, Volunteer HS Coach, Former College Vaulter
Lifetime Best: 4.36m
Location: Oregon

Re: Living Large: John Large defies age

Unread postby master » Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:07 am

Great fun to see a fellow masters vaulter get some press! :yes: You're looking good.
- master . . . http://www.plvlt.com

User avatar
Bubba PV
PV Lover
Posts: 1395
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:58 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, High School Coach, College Coach, Former Elite Vaulter, Masters Vaulter, FAN
Lifetime Best: 5.51
Favorite Vaulter: Bubka
Location: Monarch Beach (Dana Point), California
Contact:

Re: Living Large: John Large defies age

Unread postby Bubba PV » Wed Jul 07, 2010 8:29 pm

It's ashame that John's personality doesn't show through. What a great guy. Always look forward to seeing him at the big meets. Bubba
Bubba Sparks - www.bubbapv.com

Support Becca & Pole Vault Power

User avatar
souleman
PV Lover
Posts: 1015
Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:56 pm
Lifetime Best: 12-7.5
Favorite Vaulter: Bob Seagren, Bob Richards
Location: Wyoming, Minnesota
Contact:

Re: Living Large: John Large defies age

Unread postby souleman » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:05 pm

Excellent! Super story on a really good athlete.

Vaulting prof
PV Fan
Posts: 53
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:31 pm
Expertise: Masters Vaulter, Former Collegiate vaulter 1963-4, College coach
Location: Eastern Michigan University

Re: Living Large: John Large defies age

Unread postby Vaulting prof » Sat Jul 10, 2010 5:31 pm

Way to go Johnny, back to healthy and looking good.
Use it or loose it


Return to “Pole Vault - Masters”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests