George Varoff

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George Dimitri Varoff (born March 25, 1914 - January 25, 2002 ) was an American pole vaulter who appeared before the Second World War .

On July 4, 1936, he broke the world record of his compatriot Keith Brown (4.39 m, achieved on June 1, 1935 in Boston) in Princeton . He could, however, this THE RECORD enjoy barely a year because on May 29, 1937 in Los Angeles screwed Bill Sefton the world record to 4.54 meters. Both Varoff and his competitors used the bamboo stick that was common at the time .

Varoff's bad luck was that the Princeton event was not one of the elimination competitions for the 1936 Berlin Olympics . So he jumped his world record a week too early, because on the following weekend in the finals in the newly opened stadium in Randalls Island / New York he missed the qualification and therefore could not start in Berlin. In retrospect, this was all the more annoying for Varoff, since a jumped 4.25 m would have been enough for a medal . Another chance should not come for him, as the games of 1940 and 1944 had to be canceled due to the war.

Varoff experienced World War II as a member of the American Air Force . His B-29 was shot down by the Japanese occupiers while on duty in China . He survived and was captured. During this time, he was officially missing. In 1945 he returned to San Francisco , where he grew up. His death at the age of 87 was announced in the Russian press.

Services

  • 1933: 13 '3 3/4 "= 4.05 m (1) April 29th in San Francisco (26th on the world's best list)
  • 1934: 13 '0 "= 3.96.2 m
  • 1935: 12 '6 "= 3.80.9 m
  • 1936: 14 '6 1/2 "= 4.43.1 m (1) on July 4th in Princeton ( world record )
  • 1937: 4.39 m on February 13, 1937 in Boston ( indoor world record ) and 14 '7 5/8 "= 4.46.1 m (4) on July 3 in Milwaukee (4th of the WBL)
  • 1938: 14 '4 1/2 "= 4.38 m (1) on September 11th in Milano / Italy (4th of the WBL)
  • 1939: 14 '4 "= 4.36.8 m (1 =) on April 22nd in Eugene (5th of the WBL)

In 1936 and 1939 he won the US championship with the aforementioned services.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Varoff, George
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Varoff, George Dimitri
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American pole vaulter
DATE OF BIRTH March 25, 1914
DATE OF DEATH January 25, 2002