via Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Athletics – Women’s Pole Vault – Final – Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan – August 5, 2021. Katie Nageotte of the United States reacts after clearing the crossbar REUTERS/Dylan Martinez TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
via Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Athletics – Women’s Pole Vault – Final – Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan – August 5, 2021. Katie Nageotte of the United States reacts after clearing the crossbar REUTERS/Dylan Martinez TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
The US is a powerhouse in the realm of sports, all thanks to those athletes who have pushed their limits to the core to achieve success and set new records.
Recently, one of the big names in pole-vault finally took his last breath.
World record setter dies at 85
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John Uelses was the first American to set a record jump of 16 1/2 feet in 1962. This extraordinary event highlighted America in the realm of pole-vault. He set the record during the time of his service in the US Marines. The record currently is held by a Sweden athlete Armand Duplantis making an extraordinary pole vault jump of 20 feet and 4 inches.
Before setting a pole-vaulting record on a cold night in 1962 at the old Madison Square Garden, John Uelses warmed his fiberglass pole on a steam radiator at the arena. He died at 85. https://t.co/A4PLVo2qhB
— NYT Sports (@NYTSports) July 18, 2023
John was not any ordinary American who had privileges to a normal lifestyle, he had come from a very modest background. John was actually born in Berlin, Germany and after the break of the second world war, he was forced to migrate to America. He was 12 at the time when he had to migrate. Post that, he wanted to make his own identity in the new country. So finally, he joined the Marine Corps after which sports fascinated him, especially the pole vault event and he turned out to be one of those Americans who set a record in these games.
There is another athlete, whose death was a shock to everyone as it came so early.
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Kobe Bryant died in a horrific helicopter crash
It came as a shock to everyone when Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were involved in a helicopter crash and were declared dead. It was the time for the legend to live his life with his family as he retired in 2016 from the NBA. There were other people in the helicopter as well, and no one could be saved. The crash was very fatal and it instantly claimed all the lives of the people that were inside it. Kobe Bryant, along with Shaquille O’Neal has won many consecutive NBA championships with Los Angeles Lakers and is counted among the greatest legends that ever played for the club.
Also Read: 1200 Days After His Death, Immortal Kobe Bryant Lives in the Hearts of 2.4 Million NFL Fans
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It is sad for everyone to bid farewell to these legends, but the achievements John and Kobe had, and the life they lived, inspire a lot of youngsters till date.
Watch this story: Dana White makes a massive revelation of Kobe Bryant’s UFC investment
