Putting Hooker's performances into perspective

[rainbowgirl28]

I am told this came from Steve Hooker's agent.


PUTTING STEVE HOOKER’S PERFORMANCES INTO PERSPECTIVE.

Most people now realise that Steve Hooker has just put together one of the most remarkable sequences of pole-vaulting performances ever seen. Most also realise that Steve is now the second highest vaulter in history, and has attempted Sergey Bubka’s world record (6.15 metres set in 1993) at four successive competitions. However, many are unaware that Bubka’s record was set under rules that were very much more in his favour.

In an effort to speed up pole-vault competitions (to fit into TV time slots) the IAAF has continued to make it more likely that a pole-vaulter will miss. Here is a list of four rule differences that made it easier for Bubka and harder for Steve:
1. The pegs that the bar sits on are now 5.5 cm long compared to 7 cm in Bubka’s day.
2. The cross bar supports now have only one flat surface, whereas for Bubka’s world record the bar was square and so would not easily roll off the pegs.
3. Vaulters now have about half the time to vault once they have been called than was the case when the world record was set.
4. Vaulters are now not allowed to touch the bar with their hands, where as in Bubka’s day they could steady the bar with their hands as they go over. Check this video of Bubka’s WORLD RECORD DAY in Donetsk in 1993. His third attempt clearance at 5.90 would be judged a miss today (about 6 min 50 sec into the video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWGyzPNXI_U

Steve Hooker’s Season
Date Venue Comp Heights Place
30-Jan-09 New York (USA) Millrose Games 601 1
7-Feb-09 Boston (USA) Reebok Boston Indoor Games 606 1
13-Feb-09 Paris (FRANCE) Meeting Seat 600 1
15-Feb-09 Donetsk (UKRAINE) Zepter Pole Vault Stars 592 1
18-Feb-09 Stockholm (SWEDEN) GE Galan
28-Feb-09 Sydney (AUSTRALIA) Sydney Track Classic
5-Mar-09 Melbourne (AUSTRALIA) World Athletics Tour
18-Mar-09 Brisbane (AUSTRALIA) Australian Athletics Championships

[SlickVT]

I hope Steve demolishes that record... a few times.

[VaultPurple]

1. The pegs that the bar sits on are now 5.5 cm long compared to 7 cm in Bubka’s day.
2. The cross bar supports now have only one flat surface, whereas for Bubka’s world record the bar was square and so would not easily roll off the pegs.
3. Vaulters now have about half the time to vault once they have been called than was the case when the world record was set.
4. Vaulters are now not allowed to touch the bar with their hands, where as in Bubka’s day they could steady the bar with their hands as they go over. Check this video of Bubka’s WORLD RECORD DAY in Donetsk in 1993. His third attempt clearance at 5.90 would be judged a miss today (about 6 min 50 sec into the video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWGyzPNXI_U

This all might accualy any meaning, had Bubka came anywhere close to touching the cross bar on his record attempt... but he didnt. You may say touched the bar with hand on the 5.90 but you cant even really tell in that video if he really hit it or just reached for it, also people all the time reach up for a cross bar they hit out of reflex... it usualy falls but if it stays no one usualy calls it a scratch.

[rainbowgirl28]

This all might accualy any meaning, had Bubka came anywhere close to touching the cross bar on his record attempt... but he didnt. You may say touched the bar with hand on the 5.90 but you cant even really tell in that video if he really hit it or just reached for it, also people all the time reach up for a cross bar they hit out of reflex... it usualy falls but if it stays no one usualy calls it a scratch.

Looks like a holder to me.

[nitro]

if you dont touch the bar you dont have to worry about the peg lengths and the bar only having 1 flat side even though the new gill crossbars will improve that

[chasing6]

This all has the underlining feel of Maris's run at (and subsequent breaking of) Babe Ruth's home run record. Sports evolve and rules change, it's just part of athletics in general. To lay down why it was easier or harder for different eras of the sport is just making excuses in my eyes. The record will be broken when it's good and ready to be broken, and from the way Hooker has been jumping that day is not far off. When it does inevitably happen, it will be a great day for our sport. I am very excited for the months ahead.

[Livininthepast]

Perhaps thr rules have changed, but like the Steelers of the 70's, Bubka was a "man's man".
He showed no fear, and most of his world record clearnaces would have cleared 21 feet.
His recored might be broken some day, but no one can take away the glory days under which Bubka vaulted, and the style in which he did it.