Tommy Skipper Update

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TRACK & FIELD

Track and field: Tommy Skipper starts over at North Eugene
Oregon pole vault legend Tommy Skipper sets sights on a life away from the runway

BY CURTIS ANDERSON
The Register-Guard
Published: Today

On the pole vault runway during a track meet at South Eugene High School, a young girl from North Eugene asks for help.

“Hey coach,” she shouts. “Should I move my approach back?”

Her plant has been a bit off, making it difficult to clear a bar, even though the height has not yet reached seven feet.

The coach, wearing a black T-shirt and baggy jean shorts, tells her to move back.

“How far?” she asks.

“Four inches,” he says.

She does as she’s told, and the result is a shaky, bar-rattling clearance. She bounds from the landing pit with a big grin, ready for her next attempt.

The coach can’t help but smile.

“We all have to start somewhere,” said Tommy Skipper, the five-time NCAA champion for the University of Oregon who recently signed on as North Eugene’s volunteer pole vault coach. “I know that feeling.

“I’ve seen it in some of the kids out there. Maybe they didn’t clear anything, but they’re still excited about pole vaulting, and that’s what I want to instill in them, the passion that I’ve had for it.”

At 26, Skipper has reached a crossroads in his own career as a world-class pole vaulter. He isn’t ready to give up on his Olympic dreams, at least not officially, but without a shoe contract, and thus no financial means to keep training, he is also realistic.

He has no plans to compete in the pole vault in the near future.

“I had my opportunity,” he said. “And I’m grateful for that, and now, I want some security. I want to know that if I work hard at something, and I do take these steps, this will be my final destination, this will be my goal, and this will be my outcome, instead of throwing everything into dreams and hope. ...

“Don’t think for one second that I don’t think I could do it. If I didn’t have a strong desire to do what’s best for my family, and I was taking the selfish road, that’s what I would do. I would go pole vault, but things have changed in my life and I don’t want to be that person.”

Shattered dreams

When last seen at Hayward Field in June 2009, Skipper was shooting for a berth on the U.S. team that competed at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin.

He came into the meet with a PR of 19 feet, 1/4 inch, which still stands as the UO record. He ran through the pit on his first two attempts, then missed his opening height of 18-2 1/2.

Distraught, he left without talking to the media. He hasn’t competed since.

It was eerily similar to his performance at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, held one year earlier at Hayward Field.

In front of family, friends and thousands of adoring fans, Skipper was plagued by cramps in both of his calf muscles, and he no-heighted on the biggest stage of his life.

His Olympic aspirations were crushed.

“That was really depressing,” he said. “After training all those years for something, and then to have it all fall apart right at your feet, in front of everyone that you’ve been trying to make proud and love, that’s something I can’t really describe.”

After those two monumental disappointments, Skipper was forced to re-evaluate his life.

He and his wife, Amanda (Santana), a former track standout in her own right at North Eugene and Oregon, had been living in various locales in California as Skipper worked with his coach, Dan Pfaff.

However, with each passing season, Nike had reduced his contract, and it grew increasingly tough to survive.

Finally, after the 2009 U.S. championships, his relationship with Nike ended, Pfaff moved overseas to coach in Great Britain, and the Skippers decided to move back to Eugene.

He took an extended break from pole vaulting to pursue another goal: finishing his degree.

Amanda got a job with Synergy Medical Systems to pay the bills. Meanwhile, Tommy kept a low profile, avoiding reporters who called regularly to inquire about the charismatic former Oregon star, as he re-enrolled at the university.

“At that point, after not making the World Championships or the Olympics, I didn’t want to be 40 years old, look back and not have my degree,” Skipper said. “I wanted a sense of accomplishment for something and that’s what motivated us to move back. I would get my degree and then decide if I wanted to pole vault again.”

However, he was involved in a dirt bike accident last summer, suffering a dislocated bone in his left wrist that required surgery. It delayed his academic progress, but he persevered, and last winter, he earned his degree in sociology.

“That was so satisfying,” Skipper said. “I can’t say enough about the people at Oregon. ... Without them, I would never have been able to finish.”

Coaching at North

When he went back to school, Skipper needed some help in math.

His tutor was Brandy Wormdahl, a coach for the North Eugene track and field team.

One of her biggest stars had been Skipper’s wife, Amanda, who ran track at Oregon for two seasons (2006-07), and who was the 2003 state high school champion in the 300-meter hurdles for the Highlanders.

That was the same year Skipper led Sandy to its first state title in boys track and field by winning the pole vault and 100 meters, and placing second in the 200.

After finishing his UO degree, Skipper wanted to return the favor, so he asked Wormdahl if she needed any help with coaching.

As it happened, the Highlanders needed a pole vault coach.

“My only concern is that he didn’t know what he was getting into,” said Wormdahl, pointing out that several of her kids had never vaulted before.

“But Tommy has been amazing. He’s so good with the kids. He takes them where they’re at and helps them, and the kids love him. I feel lucky to have him.”

The North Eugene athletes who follow track and field were astonished to see Skipper stroll out to practice for his first workout, while others, who have never been to Hayward Field, were wondering what all the fuss was about.

One quick trip to a computer filled in the blanks.

“He’s kind of an idol,” junior Reid Dehle said. “I definitely can’t argue with anything he says, because I feel like his authority is so much higher than everyone else’s. ... I think he’s doing a really good job because he’s patient with all of us; he’s good at not discouraging you.”

Skipper could see himself coaching in the future, but he’s strongly considering a career as a firefighter. The first step would be enrolling in the two-year paramedic program at Lane Community College.

“I would love to be a firefighter,” Skipper said. “It’s kind of a family tradition.”

His brother, Art Skipper, was a full-time firefighter when he died in a plane crash in October 2001, when Tommy was a high school junior. In addition, his grandfather, father, uncle and sister were all firefighters.

So that’s been a family tradition, but so was Oregon track — Art was the 1992 NCAA javelin champion for the Ducks, and brother Scott also threw the javelin for Oregon, and Tommy watched them from the stands at Hayward Field.

“My biggest motivation through all of my years (of competing) was my two older brothers and my dad,” Skipper said. “I did it because of those three guys.

“Art and Scott were the reasons I started track in the first place. I wanted to follow in their footsteps, do what they did and make them proud. In a sense, I feel like I accomplished that, and I would do anything to honor them.”

Another Skipper arrives

Remarkably, there will be another Skipper on the UO track and field roster this fall.

Tommy’s nephew, Greg, who is Scott’s son, recently signed a letter of intent to compete in the hammer throw, and they’ll cross paths at Hayward Field today and Saturday at the Oregon Relays.

Greg Skipper, a senior at Oregon City and the nation’s top-ranked prep hammer thrower, is entered in the hammer, shot put and discus, while Tommy will work with the North Eugene pole vaulters.

“I’m so proud of (Greg),” Skipper said. “I know he has an extremely bright future here at Oregon. I’m so thankful he ended up coming here.

“I think he’s going to be a lot better athlete than I ever was.”

That will take some doing.

Besides his five NCAA titles, Skipper is the Pac-10 record-holder in the pole vault and is one of five Ducks to claim an NCAA title as a freshman, joining Steve Prefontaine, Joaquim Cruz, Brian Crouser and Becca Noble.

Skipper said he’s not bitter that he hasn’t achieved post-collegiate success in the pole vault. He didn’t reach his dreams — making an Olympic team, breaking the world record in the pole vault — but he seems to be at peace with himself.

The focus now is on developing himself as a person outside of the pole vault.

“That’s what I’m trying to do with my life,” he said. “I would love it if I could pole vault and follow my dreams, but I feel like I had my chance. Nike helped me out for three years and I didn’t do it. That’s what it boils down to.

“Yeah, I’m disappointed it didn’t work out, but I’m also content in the fact that I gave it everything I had. I worked as hard as I could; things just didn’t line up for me. It could have, and it would have been different, but maybe that wasn’t the plan for my life.

“Maybe it’s something else.”

[Righteous Vaulter]

He isn’t ready to give up on his Olympic dreams, at least not officially, but without a shoe contract, and thus no financial means to keep training, he is also realistic.

I have one answer for that, PART-TIME JOB. If a shoe contract was the only way to train for the Olympics than the field sizes at the Trials would be a lot smaller...which would really help me (lol), because I am not quitting.

[VTechVaulter]

He isn’t ready to give up on his Olympic dreams, at least not officially, but without a shoe contract, and thus no financial means to keep training, he is also realistic.

I have one answer for that, PART-TIME JOB. If a shoe contract was the only way to train for the Olympics than the field sizes at the Trials would be a lot smaller...which would really help me (lol), because I am not quitting.

its different when you have a family to look after too. its not so big a deal to be living the broke pole vaulter lifestyle when its just you

[wtfisup]

True deal. But I'm confused, does Skipper have a bunch of little tommies running around or just a high maintenance wife? ...Anyway enough TMZ back to the vaulting discussions.

[Righteous Vaulter]

its different when you have a family to look after too. its not so big a deal to be living the broke pole vaulter lifestyle when its just you

Not sure if he has kids, if so then that is tough. I am married and my wife works part-time like I do. The secret to my ability to train is I rarely spend money on things that won't get me to the Olympics. It is a sacrifice to not go to the movies, eat at restaurants, drive a fancy car, or go shopping shopping on weekend, but until I get better at marketing myself that is what I will do. I also joined Club Northwest for a small travel stipend.

Mark Hollis is married as well.

[VTechVaulter]

so is derek miles, so is jeremy scott, who also has a child. i didnt say it was impossible, i said it was different. I dont think Tommy owes anything to the pole vault community for deciding not to pursue HIS dreams anymore. I especially dont think he needs other criticisms when he is now coaching kids for a local high school.

[Righteous Vaulter]

Yeah, I am not sure if it was the journalist or Tommy who thinks the only way you can train for the Olympics is with a shoe contract. I just know that is an ignorant statement and so I pointed it out, that is all. Nothing personally offensive intended.

(ignorant: lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact)