Hiroki Sasase Article (Japan)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.iaaf.org/WYC05/news/Kind=2/newsId=30229.html

Hiroki Sasase
DOB: Aug 17, 1989
Ht/Wt: 174cm/61Kg
Personal Best: PV 5.00m

The Pole Vault used to be one of the strong events for Japan. Shuhei Nishida won a silver medal in both the 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games, while Sueo Ohe tied for a silver medal position in the Berlin Olympics. Unfortunately the country’s fortune in the event has sunk to the rock bottom in the later half of the last century.

However, the event is showing the sign of resurrection recently. Daichi Sawano made the final of the PV in the last two global championships in Paris and Athens. Even before Paris, the younger generations of Japanese pole vaulters were quite competitive, having finished third in the 2001 World Youth Championships and seventh in the 2003 World Youth Championships.

The latest Pole Vault sensation in Japan is Hiroki Sasase, who is still fifteen years old. Avid soccer player in his youth, Sasase followed his father’s step to start pole vaulting in junior high school.

Hiroki is the son of former national class pole vaulter Masaki Sasase, who has placed fourth in the 1987 JPN national championships and has a personal best of 5.10m. Naturally although not an official coach, Masaki is advising his son on his PV technique.

Two-time national junior high school champion and national junior high school record holder, Hiroki Sasase is the next generation of promising pole vault talent. In the 2003 national junior high school championships, Sasase won the pole vault against older competitors.

He was the second ever underclassman to win a national junior high school championship. In the process Sasase improved his personal best by 20cm to clear 4.50m. After the competition Sasase said, “I feel I can jump 4.55m.â€Â

[jp1667]

Here's your action photo of Sasase for the article....

[LHSpolevault]

i wish i was bred for PV glory at a young age