Trust folk have noticed that OZ has the top two ranked male vaulters in Burgess and Hooker - with former World Champion Dimitri Markov ranked 13 th despite missing the latter part of the season. Also that we have two girls, Kym Howe and Tatiana, in the top ten. With Vicki Parnov placing 3rd in the World Juniors - while still being eligible for next years World Youths this is not too shabby a performance for a country with perhaps 300 vaulters.
Please note that my reaction is linked to the fact that after I spoke at the Summit in 2005, a famous US coach - who shall remain nameless - came up to me and asked if Australia had ANY pole vaulters! Even at that time I could point out that our national record was 2cm higher than that of the US but this is even more pleasing because all four of the athletes named above learned to vault in Australia, while of course Dimitri arrived here as a 5.70/80 vaulter in 96..
Its what you learn after you know it all that counts. John Wooden
