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Sergei Bubka

"bubka Does Not Jump, He Flies"



Belarussian pole vaulter Dmitriy Markov told Warren Partland in the Adelaide, Australia Advertiser, "Bubka does not jump, he flies. Everyone else jumps but if you want to match him you must be prepared to fly." A risk-taker, Bubka used poles that some thought were too large for him in his quest for greater and greater height. He made his run dramatically, bending his pole and soaring over the bar with spectacular style.



Part of Bubka's success at breaking the world record so many times was his tactic of raising the bar by a tiny amount each time, setting new world records in one-centimeter increments. Each time he set a record, he received bonuses, endorsements, and appearance fees, so this tactic earned him a great deal of money as well as more notoriety than anyone had ever enjoyed in his previously obscure sport. O'Connor noted that each time he broke a record, Bubka received $40,000 from the Nike company, and commented, "Bubka is no fool. He doesn't smash his own records, but nibbles at them, replacing them a fraction at a time. Since taking the Nike deal, Bubka has taken 15 nibbles, good for a $600,000 bonus." Although some observers criticized Bubka as calculating and mercenary, Blackistone noted that Bubka was simply doing what star athletes in most other sports did: "Set records. Earn bonuses. Garner greater appearance fees for the next big meet." And, Blackistone wrote, "Bubka just proved that a pole vaulter could do the same if he was as spectacular and spell-binding in his performance."

Bubka lived the high life, buying expensive cars and moving to a $2 million apartment in Monte Carlo. His riches were noted by members of the Russian mafia, which issued death threats and threats to kidnap him if he did not hand over some of the money. As a result, since the mid-1990s he has traveled with a bodyguard.

Chronology

1963 Born in Voroshilovgrad, Soviet Union
1972 Begins pole vaulting
1978 Parents divorce; moves to Donetsk with his brother; continues to train
1983 Wins the first of six consecutive world championships in pole vaulting; other wins occur in 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, and 1997
1988 Wins gold medal at Seoul Olympics
1992 Competes in Barcelona Olympics
1996 Misses Atlanta Olympics due to injury
2000 Competes in Sydney Olympics
2001 Retires from competition; becomes member of Ukraine Parliament

Awards and Accomplishments

1983, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 World Champion, pole vault
1988 Gold medal, Olympic Games

Additional topics

Famous Sports StarsTrack and FieldSergei Bubka Biography - "one Of Athletics' Most Anticipated Events", "the Olympic Games Are Not Meant For Me", "bubka Does Not Jump, He Flies"