Tim Lobinger - A Fountain of Youth

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.leichtathletik.de/index.php? ... sArchive=1

Lukas translated this (verbally) for me last night, but I was sleepy, so I don't remember it all.

Lobinger talks about being a fountain of youth (I think he's almost as old as Hartwig). It is important to him that he was the first German over 6 meters. They ask if he has any rivals, but he says his only rival is himself (and sometimes he wins, sometimes he loses). He says he is planning on competing at the WIC this year. They ask him about the younger vaulters, who will be the next Tim Lobinger, and he doesn't name names, but he mentions that he has respect (or something along those lines) for anyone who can clear 5.50.

[rainbowgirl28]

Lobinger is, indeed, a fountain of youth; but it remains to be seen what force of flow the fountain will show when he reaches Hartwig's age. If I have the birthdates correct, Tim is 35 and Jeff is 40. The 2007 seasonal best for both was 5.83m. Can Lobinger hold that level of performance for another five years?

One place where Tim has a clear margin is in total results posted in his career. I thought I remembered that Dumas had him listed as tops among present elite vaulters in this stat. When I checked with Gérard (who passed the 1,000 mark this season), he verified Lobinger's all-time second place in this stat, with Leitchtahletik having published 602 results for him since 1986 and with a probable 40 to 50 others accomplished during his earlier years. Hartwig is probably next, with about 450.

Another all-time best for Lobinger: His 5.80 at Dortmund in 1999 is the best-ever vault mark in a decathlon competition!!