New Thinking

[agapit]

When flexible poles were introduced the best athletes stayed away from them for many reason, in part because many people were thinking that flexible poles would be banned. After a short while second tear athletes picked up the flexible poles and start winning pushing more athletic rigid pole vaulters to the background.

At the time the obvious observation was that the reason flexible poles offer and advantage is because they bend and therefore athletes could grip higher on the pole and it seemed that the flexible poles also catapulted the athlete up above the bar.

So the first focus in pole vault became right away to bend the pole as much as possible, first technic variations were quite peculiar, for example athletes were trying to be as much “under” as possible acting very forcefully with the left arm bending the pole while they were still on the ground. I spoke to some athletes and coaches that were in a vanguard of the early flexible pole era and some of them told me stories that they were very proud of the achievements in technic such as being able to takeoff 1 & 1/2 foot under achieving maximum pole bend on the ground.

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[botakatobi]

Thanks for the article.

Who are you referring to? What early vaulters tried to force bend the pole on the ground?

Beginning in 1950, vaulters did bend the pole but force bending is quite difficult with ones hands are together or nearly together.

The earliest known glass vaulters from 1950 to 1957 were Boo Morcom, Bucky Walter, Bobby Smith, George Roubanis and Jim Brewer. Examination of their jumps shows their hands were together or nearly together and no signs of force bending. Because their hands are together, they were holding really low, no more than on a stiff pole.

The next generation of glass vaulters were Aubrey Dooley, Jim Graham, George Davies and John Uelses. By their time it was discovered that the pole could be better controlled with a slightly wider grip. Still no indication of a force bend. The lower arm totally collapses. Their grips are starting to rise and the wider grip helped to contol the bend.

[agapit]

Thanks for the article.

Who are you referring to? What early vaulters tried to force bend the pole on the ground?

Beginning in 1950, vaulters did bend the pole but force bending is quite difficult with ones hands are together or nearly together.

The earliest known glass vaulters from 1950 to 1957 were Boo Morcom, Bucky Walter, Bobby Smith, George Roubanis and Jim Brewer. Examination of their jumps shows their hands were together or nearly together and no signs of force bending. Because their hands are together, they were holding really low, no more than on a stiff pole.

The next generation of glass vaulters were Aubrey Dooley, Jim Graham, George Davies and John Uelses. By their time it was discovered that the pole could be better controlled with a slightly wider grip. Still no indication of a force bend. The lower arm totally collapses. Their grips are starting to rise and the wider grip helped to contol the bend.

I am referring to Russian early fiberglass vaulters Геннадий Близнецов & co (G. Bliznetsov 1964-1968 Olympic Medalist and others of the same period). I do not believe Russians had fiberglass poles in the 50s because of the iron curtain and inability to produce them in Russia.

[botakatobi]

Thanks, now it's fitting more together!

Europeans did not get the glass pole till late 1961. Russians used mostly the Gill Vaultmaster and the Swedish Seefab poles.

Interestingly, in 1963, the Russian National coach, Gabriel Korobkov made two very interesting comments referring to the glass pole. He did not like the new glass pole and the favorable results being obtained by the Americans. In his criticism of the glass pole he said:

"It's the pole, not the man".
"In Russia we develop athletes, not implements".

Obviously he changed his opinion fairly quickly.

[agapit]

Thanks, now it's fitting more together!

Europeans did not get the glass pole till late 1961. Russians used mostly the Gill Vaultmaster and the Swedish Seefab poles.

Interestingly, in 1963, the Russian National coach, Gabriel Korobkov made two very interesting comments referring to the glass pole. He did not like the new glass pole and the favorable results being obtained by the Americans. In his criticism of the glass pole he said:

"It's the pole, not the man".
"In Russia we develop athletes, not implements".

Obviously he changed his opinion fairly quickly.

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