David Roberts (athlete)

David Roberts

Roberts in 1976
Personal information
Born	July 23, 1951 (1951-07-23) (age 67) Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.
Alma mater	Rice University
Height	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Weight	81 kg (179 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Pole vault
Club	FTC, Gainesville
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	5.70 m (1976)[2]
Medal record Representing the  United States Olympic Games 1976 Montreal Pole vault Pan American Games 1971 Cali Pole vault

David Luther "Dave" Roberts (born July 23, 1951) is a retired American pole vaulter. He won a silver medal at the 1971 Pan America Games and a bronze at the 1976 Olympics. Domestically he held the NCAA title in 1971–1973 and the AAU title in 1972 and 1974. He set two world records, in 1975 and 1976.

Roberts (right) returns a borrowed pole to Bell at the 1976 Olympic Trials

During the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials, Roberts broke his pole. His rival and then world record holder Earl Bell lent him his pole, and Roberts won the Trials with a new world record of 5.70 m.^[3] At the Olympics, after he and two other athletes passed 5.50 m, Roberts gambled for a gold medal. He passed 5.55 m, and after his rivals failed to clear it, tried to jump 5.60 m, but failed, and finished third on the attempts count.^[1]

Roberts graduated from Rice University in 1974. He then completed the University of Florida College of Medicine, and practiced as a surgeon.^[1]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Roberts (athlete).

Records
Preceded by Bob Seagren	Men's Pole Vault World Record Holder March 28, 1975 – May 29, 1976	Succeeded by Earl Bell
Preceded by Earl Bell	Men's Pole Vault World Record Holder June 22, 1976 – May 11, 1980	Succeeded by Władysław Kozakiewicz
Sporting positions
Preceded by Steve Smith	Men's Pole Vault Best Year Performance 1975–1976	Succeeded by Władysław Kozakiewicz