PoleVaultPower.com

5.15 and a few 5.05s advance: http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/WJC12/Results/ ... _PV_hash_q

Does anyone else find it ironic that the one American advancing to finals was born in another country (and could still compete for them) while there are two American born and raised athletes competing for other countries? I am not criticizing the latter two, I would do the same in their shoes, just wish we had more resources to support our vaulters that would make them want to compete for us.

Just one surprise: Wei Zhang (CHN) with 5.50 PB didn't qualify (NH).
Ivan Horvat, my countryman and big favorite for gold, qualify for the final.

What kind of further resources would be necessary for these athletes to want to compete for the USA instead of another country?

I believe they had the option of attempting to qualify for the USA JR National team but chose another route that may have been easier.

What are the rules of representing a country at the Jr level, or even U-23 level then attempting to represent a different country at the national "adult" level? (Worlds or Olympic team)? I know there are many different rules regarding the Olympics, but I'm curious what the rules would be at different age levels....

anybody?

People like being able to go to international meets. Barber tried for the USA team but did not qualify so he switched to the Canadian team so he could go to worlds. Duplantis has been jumping for Sweden since 2009 at the world youth championships and he was always competing at same time as guys like Irwin and Whitt so USA team not so easy to make. Not that I know exact reasons.

As far as elite level, a lot of countries support their athletes and even pay them salaries. While the USA does not.

bjvando wrote:What kind of further resources would be necessary for these athletes to want to compete for the USA instead of another country?

Canada provides anywhere from $900-$1500 dollars a month for there elite athletes. Where the USA provides almost nothing. It would be an easy choice for me.

Typically US elite athletes gain most of their "funding" through private company endorsements ie. Nike,Asics etc. Some sports like Gymnastics have a "standing" national team and in some instances they (team members) can be in residence at a national training center and thus maintain some level of support. I coached gymnastics for 30 years and some of my athletes did this, so it is factual. As far as T&F is concerned I do not know if that path (of sponsorship) as resident national team members exists. From what I can gather it does not exist at say the same level as gymnastics. Being a pole Vaulter is about as rare as a two-headed cat and consequently is not very popular to spend/fund/support athletes and the big one...............................profitable/marketable for the national entity as say a runner (everybody knows what running a race is). Hope that clarifies ......................"the way it is"