LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Bob Seagren: World Records
built 654 days ago
Bob was the heavy favorite for the gold medal going into the 1972 Olympic season. He set the last of his four world records (18-5 3/4) in the months leading up to the Olympic competition in Munich. However, a last-minute decision by the IAAF forced Bob to vault on an unfamiliar pole. He had to settle for the silver medal, the first time ever in Olympic competition that a U.S. athlete was not the gold medal winner.
Source:
Seagren set his first world record, 17-5 1/2, on May 14, 1966. After that mark was broken, he set another record of 17-7 on June 10, 1967. That was ... broken, but Seagren reclaimed the world record with a vault of 17-9 at the 1968 Olympic trials.
Source:
The man who may well beat Seagren to 19 ft. is Kjell Isaksson, who is relatively unconcerned about the type of pole he uses. The wiry little (5 ft. 8 in., 145 Ibs.) Swede has broken the world record three times this year with springy vaults that give him the appearance of coming off a trampoline instead of a pole. Says Seagren's former track coach, Donald Ruh: "Bob is a classic vaulter. Isaksson is more gymnastic. He makes it look almost effortless because he gets so much flyaway on top." Adds Jenks: "Bob overcomes that by being stronger, faster and taller."
Source:
MORE ABOUT
World Records