Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Robert "Bob" Seagren (born October 17, 1946) was
an United States|American pole vault|pole vaulter,
the 1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Olympic champion.

A native of Pomona, California, Bob Seagren was
one of the world's top pole vaulters in the late
1960s and early 1970s. He won six National Amateur
Athletic Union|AAU and four NCAA titles indoors
and outdoors. Indoors he posted eight world bests
between 1966 and 1969. He was also the Pan
American Games champion in 1967. He jumped his
first world record (5,32m) in Fresno on May 14,
1966, followed by his world records 1967 in San
Diego (5,36m), 1968 in South Lake Tahoe (5,41m)
and 1972 in Eugene (5,63m).

In 1968, Bob Seagren participated in his first
Olympic Games in Mexico City. In an exciting
contest, he won the gold medal. He, silver
medallist Claus Schiprowski (West Germany) and the
bronze medal winner Wolfgang Nordwig (East
Germany) had reached the same height (5,40m).

Four years later, in Munich, he's best remembered
for the Olympic gold medal he didn't get. In the
1972 Summer Olympics, a last-minute ruling barred
the new Cata-Pole from Olympic competition,
forcing some vaulters, including Seagren, to
compete with unfamiliar poles. East German
Wolfgang Nordwig didn't use a Cata-Pole and won
the gold medal, with Seagren coming second.

A 1968 University of Southern California graduate,
Seagren took a try at professional track and later
he started his career in television and
film|movies as a show host and soap opera actor.
Today, he is CEO of International City Racing,
which specializes in the development, management,
and implementation of road racing, endurance, and
fitness events, including the Long Beach
International Marathon (sport)|City Marathon. He
is also an active supporter of the Commission on
Athletics of the California Community Colleges.

Seagren won the inaugural American Superstars
sports competition in 1973 as well as the first
World Superstars in 1977, his lone victories in
both events. 

==External links==
* http://vm.mtsac.edu/relays/HallFame/Seagren.htm
Relays Hall of Fame 

Footer Olympic Champions Pole Vault Men