John Pennel
John Thomas Pennel (born July 25, 1940 in Memphis , Tennessee , † September 26, 1993 in Santa Monica , California ) was an American track and field athlete who was one of the world's top pole vaulters in the 1960s . He improved the world record several times.
Life
The 1.78 m tall and 75 kg hobby musician (saxophone) studied journalism and sports at Northeast State College in Monroe , Louisiana . Before he came to the pole vault, he had already tried his hand at boxing, swimmer and long jumper. In 1965 he won his only US championship (5.18 m) and was awarded the Sullivan Award. In 1970 he was the best American sixth on the world's best list with a jump of 5.33 m.
Pennel died of cancer at the age of 53. He left five children. His son Shawn also tried his hand at pole vaulting, but gave up this sport because he could not withstand the pressure of expectation that he was exposed to due to the strong external resemblance to his father. John Pennel was posthumously inducted into the US Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2004.
World records
- 4.95 m on March 24, 1963 in Memphis
- 4.97 m on April 11, 1963 in Natchitoches
- 5.04 m on April 30, 1963 in Monroe
- 5.10 m on July 13, 1963 in London
- 5.13 m on August 5, 1963 in London
- 5.20 m on August 24, 1963 in Miami (after successful attempts over 4.57 m and 4.90 m, he took this height in the 2nd attempt)
- 5,34 m on July 23, 1966 in Los Angeles
- 5.44 m on July 21, 1969 in Sacramento
Olympic games
- XVIII. Olympic Summer Games 1964 in Tokyo : eleventh with 4.70 m (4.80 m left out and failed at 4.85 m)
- XIX. Summer Olympic Games in 1968 in Mexico City : Fifth with 5.35 m (The for all three medalists traded 5.40 m although he had also skipped, but the bar fell through under the bar, which was considered by the then rules as a failed attempt )
Individual evidence
Web links
- John Pennel in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )
- http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Pennel, John |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Pennel, John Thomas (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American athlete |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 25, 1940 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Memphis , Tennessee |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 26, 1993 |
| Place of death | Santa Monica , California |