Two time world record holder and 1976 Olympic bronze medalist in the pole vault, Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts
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Two time world record holder and 1976 Olympic bronze medalist in the pole vault, Dave Roberts
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@Shooshie128. It’s always a gamble to pass on heights, but whatever strategy he used it was to win. You do a calculation based on how you feel and what you are seeing in the other vaulters.
@Shooshie128 I was one year older than him I think. I had a good year in the pole vault. Won the vault in District, Regional, and then the State meet (Texas). I then went on to exceed the mark of my once hero and Olympian on the Wheaties box, Bob Richards before quitting and becoming a biologist. I remember his parents filming him and being ticked off my parents weren’t behind me like that and 2) he was really vertical in his positions. Impressive for that time.
@davidleealford
You must have been a lot older than him. Once he was in high school, he never lost a championship at state or regional level. He left records all over Texas.
@Clt2002
Selfish? That’s preposterous. His strategy was tried and true. The rain began when he began to jump at what would have been his winning height. Worse, a powerful headwind pushed him back from clearing the bar. I was there and saw this happen. By Munich tie-breaking rules, he’d have received the gold. They used different rules, so he got the bronze.
funny thing about this vault is yes he clears the bar but he actually misses the pit after that
He became a Surgeon.After he stopped jumping in 1979.
He never get over the loss in 1976. He lost the 1976 olymic final to Polish Tadeusz Slusárski and Finland’s Antti Kalliomäki by a simply being selfish. He tried 560 in a heavy rain. When he would have just needed 555 which he had passed on.
I remember those black poles from the 60′s and 70′s. I actually topped Dave in the Texas regional and State Championship, although he was I believe a year younger than me. Anyone know what became of him?