Dominic Johnson article (St. Lucia)

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http://www.azstarnet.com/east/121106.php

Rising to challenge
Two-time olympian eyes 2008
By Brian J. Pedersen
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 03.23.2006
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How two-time Olympian Dominic Johnson manages to vault himself more than 18 feet in the air with a long, flimsy pole still remains the same.
Why, at 30, he still does it has changed, though.
"Now it's more so that my kids can see me in the Olympics," said Johnson, a former Amphitheater High School and University of Arizona star.
Johnson, now living in Sahuarita with his wife, Kristel, and two young daughters, has scaled back to being only a part-time competitive pole vaulter, spending the rest of his time being a husband and father and buying and renovating homes in the Tucson area.
But after more than year off from competition, Johnson has resumed training with the long-term goal of representing his native St. Lucia in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
In the meantime, he's competing for St. Lucia at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.
"The Australians probably take it more seriously than anyone in the Commonwealth," said Johnson, referring to the current and former British territories that compete in the Olympic-style event. "I've done it twice before and have a bronze (medal) from Manchester (England) in 2002."
Johnson, who took up pole vaulting after watching his brother do it â€â€

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.azstarnet.com/sports/122786

Tucsonan and former UA All-American pole vaulter Dominic Johnson cleared 17-6 in that event at the recent Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. While there, in a capacity for the St. Lucia track team, Johnson had lunch with Prince Edward. He earlier was introduced to Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Prince Albert of Monaco.
"Who knew the pole vault would take me there?" said Johnson, an Amphitheater High School grad who is training for the Central America Games.