Venue: Olympic Stadium, Tokyo 57,363 (48,000 seats).
30 competitors from 20 nations.
The development of the fibreglass pole revolutionised the event
between 1960 and 1964 with 10 accepted (plus seven unratified)
records, taking the world record from 4.81 to 5.28. The last of these
was set by Fred Hansen in the USA versus USSR match of 1964, mak-
ing him the gold medal favourite. Eighteen athletes cleared the 4.60
qualifying height, presaging a lengthy final.
Thirteen men cleared the Olympic record height of 4.70, among
them John Pennel, the first man to clear 17 feet (5.18). Pennel was suf-
fering with an injured back and failed at 4.85, a height which defeated
the number three American Billy Pemelton. Seven men were now left
in. Pentti Nikūla, the first man to clear 5m, then missed at 4.95.
Tomášek, the gymnastic Czech, and the big (1.90/90kg) Ukrainian,
Bliznetsov, were the next to depart - at 5.05. Earlier Hansen, and the
German triumvirate - Reinhardt Lehnertz and the veteran Preussger, all
cleared 5.00 first time. Hansen then gambled, passing 5.05, and when
Reinhardt cleared first time, Hansen had to make 5.10 to win, as the
other Germans failed 5.05. Hansen failed twice, and more than six
hours after the competition started, he scraped over 5.10 for the gold.
United States
UT Germany
Soviet Union
Czechoslovakia
Finland
Canada
Yugoslavia
France
Spain
Greece
Taiwan
Canada
Great Britain
Puerto Rico
Japan
Switzerland
Belgium
Italy
Poland
Bulgaria
Iseland