Olympic Controversies - Past and Present
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rainbowgirl28
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http://apse.dallasnews.com/contest/2002 ... cond5.html
Seagren Clears Air in Pole Controversy
By JOHN ORTEGA
Los Angeles Times
One part of Bob Seagren would like to say that the reason he didn't win his second consecutive gold medal in the pole vault in 1972 was an International Amateur Athletic Federation ruling that prevented him from competing with his regular poles.
But, today, the other admits that breezy, misty conditions on the day of the Olympic final would have made it difficult for him to clear 18 feet using his regular poles.
"Having to vault on [poles that weren't mine] might have been a blessing in disguise because of the conditions," said Seagren, 56. "If I had been allowed to jump on my regular poles, I might have been too aggressive and ended up [failing to clear a height]."
Seagren, a USC graduate, had cleared a world-record 18-5¾ in winning the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore., on July 2. But three weeks later, the IAAF banned the poles that Seagren and many other vaulters, including U.S. teammate Jan Johnson, were using.
The IAAF contended that the newly developed poles had carbon fibers in them, making the implements lighter but just as strong as older-model poles. It also said that some of the world's top vaulters, such as Seagren, had easier access to the poles than others, such as Wolfgang Nordwig of East Germany.
George Moore, a representative of the company that manufactured the banned Cata-Pole 550+, produced documents alleging that there were no carbon fibers in the pole and that all of the world's top vaulters had received some of them.
Seagren, now in his second year as the chief executive officer of International City Racing after appearing in several episodic television series during the 1970s and '80s, wasn't concerned with the ban because he was confident he could vault equally well on his poles deemed legal for competition.
But the IAAF, using methods that were highly questionable, according to Track & Field News magazine, mistakenly banned many "legal" poles during an implement inspection the day before the qualifying round.
In the final, Seagren cleared 17-8½, finishing second behind Nordwig, who cleared an Olympic-record 18-½ to become the first non-American to win an Olympic gold medal in the pole vault.
Johnson won the bronze medal at 17-6¾. The Illinois native is now one of the nation's most respected pole-vault coaches. He conducts four vault camps a year from his home in Atascadero and holds annual camps in four other states.
"To clear 18 feet in those conditions was quite an accomplishment," Seagren said. "But I was very upset at the time."
Seagren Clears Air in Pole Controversy
By JOHN ORTEGA
Los Angeles Times
One part of Bob Seagren would like to say that the reason he didn't win his second consecutive gold medal in the pole vault in 1972 was an International Amateur Athletic Federation ruling that prevented him from competing with his regular poles.
But, today, the other admits that breezy, misty conditions on the day of the Olympic final would have made it difficult for him to clear 18 feet using his regular poles.
"Having to vault on [poles that weren't mine] might have been a blessing in disguise because of the conditions," said Seagren, 56. "If I had been allowed to jump on my regular poles, I might have been too aggressive and ended up [failing to clear a height]."
Seagren, a USC graduate, had cleared a world-record 18-5¾ in winning the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore., on July 2. But three weeks later, the IAAF banned the poles that Seagren and many other vaulters, including U.S. teammate Jan Johnson, were using.
The IAAF contended that the newly developed poles had carbon fibers in them, making the implements lighter but just as strong as older-model poles. It also said that some of the world's top vaulters, such as Seagren, had easier access to the poles than others, such as Wolfgang Nordwig of East Germany.
George Moore, a representative of the company that manufactured the banned Cata-Pole 550+, produced documents alleging that there were no carbon fibers in the pole and that all of the world's top vaulters had received some of them.
Seagren, now in his second year as the chief executive officer of International City Racing after appearing in several episodic television series during the 1970s and '80s, wasn't concerned with the ban because he was confident he could vault equally well on his poles deemed legal for competition.
But the IAAF, using methods that were highly questionable, according to Track & Field News magazine, mistakenly banned many "legal" poles during an implement inspection the day before the qualifying round.
In the final, Seagren cleared 17-8½, finishing second behind Nordwig, who cleared an Olympic-record 18-½ to become the first non-American to win an Olympic gold medal in the pole vault.
Johnson won the bronze medal at 17-6¾. The Illinois native is now one of the nation's most respected pole-vault coaches. He conducts four vault camps a year from his home in Atascadero and holds annual camps in four other states.
"To clear 18 feet in those conditions was quite an accomplishment," Seagren said. "But I was very upset at the time."
In the 1973 edition of The Mechanics of the Pole Vault, the author, Richard Ganslen, reproduces a letter dated September 22, 1972 from George Moore (the maker of Cata-Poles) to the chairman of the USOC (cc to President Nixon, Governor Reagan, Governor Wallace [I assume because Jan Johnson was attending the Univ. of Alabama], Senator Cranston, Senator Tunney, Mayor Daley, and the president of the AAU).
In that letter, Mr. Moore gives numerous details regarding the Munich pole ban. He explains in painstaking detail that the IAAF rules did not prohibit the poles that were banned, nor did any other applicable rules for that matter. In fact, check your rule books folks, there are no restrictions on pole composition, length, etc. About the only restriction is that poles have to have a smooth surface.
Well, Mr. Moore goes on to persuasively argue that the poles (green Cata-Poles and Blue Sky Poles) were legal and that the German Officials acted without any authority. My research indicates that Mr. Moore was completely correct. The IAAF had no business banning those poles.
As for the presence of Steve Smith and Kjell Isaksson (who both had previously used the Blue Skypoles), Mr. Moore has the following to say: "In the qualifying round the following vaulters failed to clear a height and did not qualify for the finals..."Kjell Isaksson of Sweden, previous best of 18'-4 1/4" (Isaksson cleared 18 feet six times or more in competition in 1972. He failed to clear 16'-5" in Munich.) All of the above men were forced to change poles on the day of the qualifying round. The following men cleared a height but failed to qualify for the finals: 1- Steve Smith of the USA, cleared 15'-9", failed to clear 16'-5". Previous best 18'-1/2"."
Later in his letter, Mr. Moore states: "The Swedish vaulters were allowed to use poles in the finals that had been banned in the preliminaries!!!!! Steve Smith used such a pole normally, but was denied it's [sic] use in the preliminary round."
On the confiscation issue, Mr. Moore wrote: "After the finals of the vault on September 2, 1972, I talked to Jan Johnson. Jan informed me that all three of the LEGAL BLACK poles in his possession had been confiscated and that he was forced to borrow a pole to compete!!!!!!" {Jan once told me that he borrowed Bruce Jenner's poles. But clearly we should let him speak for himself on this matter}
As I said, the letter is very long and gives what appears to be a pretty complete account.
I've only given a couple of highlights here that may shed some light on this matter, given the questions and issues that have been raised.
In that letter, Mr. Moore gives numerous details regarding the Munich pole ban. He explains in painstaking detail that the IAAF rules did not prohibit the poles that were banned, nor did any other applicable rules for that matter. In fact, check your rule books folks, there are no restrictions on pole composition, length, etc. About the only restriction is that poles have to have a smooth surface.
Well, Mr. Moore goes on to persuasively argue that the poles (green Cata-Poles and Blue Sky Poles) were legal and that the German Officials acted without any authority. My research indicates that Mr. Moore was completely correct. The IAAF had no business banning those poles.
As for the presence of Steve Smith and Kjell Isaksson (who both had previously used the Blue Skypoles), Mr. Moore has the following to say: "In the qualifying round the following vaulters failed to clear a height and did not qualify for the finals..."Kjell Isaksson of Sweden, previous best of 18'-4 1/4" (Isaksson cleared 18 feet six times or more in competition in 1972. He failed to clear 16'-5" in Munich.) All of the above men were forced to change poles on the day of the qualifying round. The following men cleared a height but failed to qualify for the finals: 1- Steve Smith of the USA, cleared 15'-9", failed to clear 16'-5". Previous best 18'-1/2"."
Later in his letter, Mr. Moore states: "The Swedish vaulters were allowed to use poles in the finals that had been banned in the preliminaries!!!!! Steve Smith used such a pole normally, but was denied it's [sic] use in the preliminary round."
On the confiscation issue, Mr. Moore wrote: "After the finals of the vault on September 2, 1972, I talked to Jan Johnson. Jan informed me that all three of the LEGAL BLACK poles in his possession had been confiscated and that he was forced to borrow a pole to compete!!!!!!" {Jan once told me that he borrowed Bruce Jenner's poles. But clearly we should let him speak for himself on this matter}
As I said, the letter is very long and gives what appears to be a pretty complete account.
I've only given a couple of highlights here that may shed some light on this matter, given the questions and issues that have been raised.
Russ
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
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Bruce Caldwell
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GOOd REsearch RUSS
I see that the info is what I recall when I was a rep for Skypole in 1972-73
Good Job on the research.
Bruce
Good Job on the research.
Bruce
I love the PV, it is in my DNA
my view '72
Hi Kirk!
Thanks for loaning me your poles so's I could jump in the finals in '72....That was very good of you and I will never forget it!!!!!
Both Issakson and Smith jumped in the prelims, but they both had sore hamstrings and failed to advance on Brown Sky Poles.
I jumped on Bruce Jenners Black Catapole 7.7 in the prelims from 5 lefts to make 16'5 and advance. I had to run back to the village to borrow it before the prelims. It had to be checked and certified. I entered the field approximalty 20 min before the prelims started. I got off the ground once or twice and then missed once at each bar: 16' and 16'5.
I jumped in the finals on Kirk's 7.1and 7.0 from 7 lefts holding 14'8 to clear 17'6. A nice short run day!!!
Please note, most of the year I jumped on a 6.5, or 6.6 gripping 15'3 or 4, from 10 lefts.
The officals would not let us catch mid marks or take-off marks. We all had to sit at the end of the runway and we not allowed to come down past the 60' mark.
When it was over I was so happy to be done with it.
Then to top it all off the Black September terriosts hit the Olympic Village the next morning around 4am.
Jan Johnson
1972 Bronze medalist
Thanks for loaning me your poles so's I could jump in the finals in '72....That was very good of you and I will never forget it!!!!!
Both Issakson and Smith jumped in the prelims, but they both had sore hamstrings and failed to advance on Brown Sky Poles.
I jumped on Bruce Jenners Black Catapole 7.7 in the prelims from 5 lefts to make 16'5 and advance. I had to run back to the village to borrow it before the prelims. It had to be checked and certified. I entered the field approximalty 20 min before the prelims started. I got off the ground once or twice and then missed once at each bar: 16' and 16'5.
I jumped in the finals on Kirk's 7.1and 7.0 from 7 lefts holding 14'8 to clear 17'6. A nice short run day!!!
Please note, most of the year I jumped on a 6.5, or 6.6 gripping 15'3 or 4, from 10 lefts.
The officals would not let us catch mid marks or take-off marks. We all had to sit at the end of the runway and we not allowed to come down past the 60' mark.
When it was over I was so happy to be done with it.
Then to top it all off the Black September terriosts hit the Olympic Village the next morning around 4am.
Jan Johnson
1972 Bronze medalist
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