The Vaulter Who Raised The Bar
Pole vaulter Sergey Bubka burst on the international scene when, as a 19-year-old, he scored an upset victory at the inaugural World Championships of Athletics in 1983. Over the next 14 years, he won all five world championships. He is still the only athlete in any event to win six world championships. Competing in Paris on 13 July 1988, he became the first vaulter to clear six metres. An overwhelming favourite at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Bubka came within one miss of finishing out of the medals completely. However he easily cleared the height - 5.90 metres - and won the gold medal. In 1991, Bubka became the first person to clear 20 feet, which he did both indoors and outdoors. Favored to win at the 1992 Olympics, Bubka missed all three of his attempts. However, he rebounded quickly and broke the world record twice in the next 36 days. Bubka eventually set world records 35 times, 18 times indoors and 17 times outdoors. Bubka is a member of the International Olympic Committee's executive board and he is chairman of the IOC's Athletes' Commission.
Pole vaulter Sergey Bubka burst on the international scene when, as a 19-year-old, he scored an upset victory at the inaugural World Championships of Athletics in 1983. Over the next 14 years, he won all five world championships. He is still the only athlete in any event to win six world championships. Competing in Paris on 13 July 1988, he became the first vaulter to clear six metres. An overwhelming favourite at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Bubka came within one miss of finishing out of the medals completely. However he easily cleared the height - 5.90 metres - and won the gold medal. In 1991, Bubka became the first person to clear 20 feet, which he did both indoors and outdoors. Favored to win at the 1992 Olympics, Bubka missed all three of his attempts. However, he rebounded quickly and broke the world record twice in the next 36 days. Bubka eventually set world records 35 times, 18 times indoors and 17 times outdoors. Bubka is a member of the International Olympic Committee's executive board and he is chairman of the IOC's Athletes' Commission.
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