John Pennel – #9 All-time Pole Vault Athlete

Personal Stats

D.O.B: 07.25.40
N.O.C: United States
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 76 kg
Final Year of Competition: 1970
Years Top 10: 7

Personal Bests

Pole Vault: 5.44 (United States 1969)

In an event dominated by Americans (11 of the Top 20 in our HBM All-Time Rankings are from the US), Pennel takes the 9th spot as a 3-time World Record breaker, and 4-time World #1!

In an event dominated by Americans (11 of the Top 20 in our HBM All-Time Rankings are from the US), Pennel takes the 9th spot as a 3-time World Record breaker, and 4-time World #1! Amazingly, he was denied an Olympic medal in 1968 when clearing 5.40m on account of his pole passing under the bar! Thankfully the rule was changed the following year and Pennel’s legacy lives on as a true great of the event…🇺🇸