Jan. 15 marks the 30th year after famed pole vaulter Serhiy Bubka broke his first world record in the sport. It took place in Vilnius when he surpassed 5.81 meters during a pole vault in 1984. He would go on to break 34 additional world records while his best vault, at 6.15-meters, remains unbroken now for more than 20 years.
Bubka,
50, is an Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion, has a Hero of
Ukraine accolade, and was twice named Athlete of the Year by Track & Field
News.
He was also the first in the world to vault higher than 6
meters.
Today he is the president of Ukraine’s Olympic Committee.
In May 2013, he unsuccessfully ran for the International
Olympic Committee’s presidency, which went to Thomas Bach.
