Gérard Dumas defies doctor again, vaults for the 70th year in row

In March 2007, I interviewed Gérard Dumas, the pole vault historian who claims the world record for most consecutive years jumping with a stick. I asked him: “How many more years of vaulting do you have left in you?” He replied: “I would like to jump another five years, but the legs are crying mercy and the performances are getting ridiculous. I also had a shoulder operation a year ago which slowed me down, and I had to vault under an assumed names seven months after the operation so that the surgeon would not shoot me.” Well, don’t tell Gerard’s doctor, but he’s still playing with poles. At the National Pole Vault Summit on Saturday, he cleared 1.82 (5-11 1/2) at age 81. He’s now got his butt over a bar 70 years in a row. Dozens of other masters also jumped, with Hall of Famer John Altendorf reportedly tying the M70 indoor WR of 3.25 (10-8). I’m seeking details. He still wears a fire-engine red crash helmet. Thanks to Becca Gillespy Peter for her geezer coverage in Reno.

Here’s John’s vault in Reno.

Results from other masters flights:

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January 15, 2017

4 Responses

  1. Art Parry - January 16, 2017

    I expected John to break the indoor record. However, my 3.35 (10 ft. 11 3/4 in.)indoor jump last August was approved as a world record last month.

  2. John Altendorf - January 16, 2017

    Congratulations Art. Obviously I hadn’t heard about your 3.35 vault in August. Don Isett didn’t know about it either. Don and I talked quite a bit in Reno. Glad to know you are still at it and at a world class level. Hope to see you some time soon. I also hope the records information can be disseminated in a timely way in the future so we athletes know what we are shooting for.

    – John

  3. Warren Hamill - January 17, 2017

    Gerard, you remind me of the energizer bunny. Way to go old kid! You are inspiring!

  4. John Altendorf - January 17, 2017

    I remembered something that puts the onus back on me and I feel bad that I forgot about it. When Jeff Brower took over the Masters Records at USATF he set up a status listing in the form of a spreadsheet and made that available on the web. You can check it out here http://www.usatfmasters.org/fa_recordsarchive.htm. This is for previous years but there is also one for the current year. The information I needed is there in plain site and I messed up by not remembering about it.

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