VAULTER Magazine April 1, 2012

www.thevaultermag.com | the vaulter magazine olympic edition | april 2012

Next month VAULTER will bring more one on one interviews with some of your favorite vaulters. Pole and spike reviews and much more.

Next Month / By VAULTER Magazine2 - 25

This month VAULTER Magazine reviews some of the pole vault camps that you may want to visit on your next summer vacation. VAULTER has a listing that you will want to see.

Pole Vault Camp Review / By VAULTER Magazine

Page 14 - 15

Tips and Tricks to knowing the hot spots of London and what it will take to make your stay one to remember. VAULTER Magazine has the inside look at where to shop, how to travel and more.

2012 Olympic Tips and Tricks / By vaulter magazine

Page 4 - 8

The April issue of VAULTER we talk about the Olympics and the in’s and out’s of getting around London on the big day. The 2012 VAULTER Guide will help you get to where your going.

2012 Olympic Guide / By VAULTER Magazine

Page 18 - 19

Mary Saxer joins us and speaks out about the rules and regulations of her sport and what it will take to get to the 2012 Olympics in London.

Mary saxer / By VAULTER Magazine

Page 11

The wife of Mark Hollis, Amanda Hollis writes about the support of the vaulters wife. Her support and the work that comes with a stay-at-home-fan.

amanda hollis/ By VAULTER Magazine

Page 20 - 21

Paul Litcheld stops in and talks to VAULTER about his daily vaulting regimen and how nutrition plays a very important role in his vaulting aspects.

paul litchfield / By VAULTER Magazine

Page 9 - 10

We talk with Mark Hollis about his younger years and what it takes to rise to the top of the pole vault game.

mark hollis / By VAULTER Magazine

Page 16 - 17

Jordan Scott talks with VAULTER magazine about his unorthodox approach to pole vaulting and the daily operations of his vault.

Uncut Jordan Scott / By VAULTER Magazine

Page 12 - 13

This month in VAULTER magazine we have an exclusive article with Renaud Lavillenie about his triumphant return to the pole vaulting after his injury that could have become a serious game changer in his career.

Cover Story Renaud Lavillenie / By VAULTER Magazine

What’s in this issue?This issue of VAULTER packs the pages with userful information for your 2012 Olympic trip to London. VAULTER also talks with some of your favorite vaulters from around the world giving you the inside seat within the world pole vault.

Issue 1 / April 2012

www.Thevaultermag.com | The VAULTER magazine olympic edition | april 2012

VAULTER magazine was founded on some basic principles that we hope will help the reader understand what our mission here at the magazine has become. In the past couple months, while we have compiled numerous articles and pages of interesting material for this issue of the magazine, material for this issue of the magazine, and many issues to come, one main question is always asked. Who is this and who is VAULTER magazine?

VAULTER Magazine consists of a group of pole vaulting enthusiasts who have come together to bring you, the pole vault community, your very own sport specific magazine. It really makes no difference who we are, because it's not about us. It’s about the reader and the pole vaulter that make reader and the pole vaulter that make this great sport possible. Without the vaulter, the coach, the school, or the event, none of this would ever be achievable.

The staff that makes VAULTER magazine possible has a background in coaching, pole vaulting, advertising, and life in general, but we are by no means experts in any of the previously mentioned fields. This is the reason we ask the professionals on the street and the experts in the field to give us the the experts in the field to give us the best stories possible so that we can deliver them straight to you. Your opinion counts and you can count on us to do our best to deliver that opinion.

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With all of this said, this magazine is your magazine with the pole vaulter at the forefront of this mission. For years we have all wondered when we would see a magazine dedicated to the vaulter and now we have a start! We have something that we can build and nurture as a team effort for the good nurture as a team effort for the good of all pole vaulters around the world. Let’s have fun, learn, and be challenged within the event of pole vaulting and have a magazine that shows what we are truly all about.

Remember that a picture is worth a million memories. If you have a picture that you think would best represent this community of readers, please send the image or video in. The larger the image the better chance you will have to get that image placed in an article or feature.an article or feature.Please feel free to contact VAULTER with any information that you may have pertaining to the vaulting community.

VAULTER Magazine

By vaulter magazine

Well here we go again! Another magazine stating that they cater to the pole vault community. VAULTER is committed to the vaulter community and plans to interact with the fans and vaulters alike from the youth to the Olympian. Wish us luck!

A new era for pole vaulting enthusiasts

Issue 1 / April 2012

www.Thevaultermag .com| The VAulter magazine |april 2012

As the 2012 London Olympic Games approach numerous amounts of people will travel into this great city. All of them have expectations of what they believe the will see when they get there, but with the renovations to the city and the renovations to the city and the venues, most of them really have no idea what is waiting for them. Even if you’re not new to the London scene, traveling there randomly in the past you will not be able to ignore the facelift that the city has gone facelift that the city has gone through. This facelift was not a small feat when it comes to expense. The total price tag for the renovations and preparations already surpassed 12 Billion dollars and it could go higher; so you can expect the go higher; so you can expect the best that London has to offer and all of this will be available to you.

Of course all the improvements to the city mean nothing to the common traveler unless you know how to enjoy them at the fullest. With all of these changes and construction in mind, here is your 2012 London Olympic Games Guide.Olympic Games Guide.

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By VAULTER Magazine

Traveling to London for most of us will have a different look and feel after the huge improvements made to the surrounding area. This guide will help the Olympian find their way around and give some insight on what to expect.

The Working Man Lives Longer

www.TheVaultermag.com | the vaulter magazine olympic edition | april 2012

East London. Olympic Park will see its good share of events; including swimming, diving, basketball, handball, synchronized swimming, BMX, hockey, and others. If you have and others. If you have tickets to any of these events you should do your best to stay close because the crowds will get rather large. If you stayed away from Olympic Park then you Olympic Park then you can get there by going to Stratford International and Stratford stations as well as West Ham station which are located to the south. Closing ceremonies will also be ceremonies will also be held here, so staying close by ensures that you will get a great Olympic experience.

Pole Vault and other Athletic events will also be held at this venue and since the events are popular, it is recommended that you arrive at the venue at least 30-45 minutes in least 30-45 minutes in advance. At that point you will be able to head inside and find your seat with ample amount of time. Arriving late will ensure that you may miss a large amount of the a large amount of the action due to the large numbers of people arriving all at once.

Soccer will be held within six different venues and it is also one of the most popular events in the Olympics. While Olympic soccer does not match World

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Getiing the ticket

The tickets to the events The tickets to the events went on sale March of last year, so getting a ticket to the opening and closing ceremonies will be a difficult venture to accomplish. There are however other events however other events that are still available for you to purchase if you go through the legal channels. You can assume that there will be a lot of people selling tickets close to the tickets close to the venues, but you should be careful of your local laws and you could always end up paying a lot of money for a forgery.

The ticket price depends on the event that you want to see. The popular events such as swimming and athletics will have a higher ticket price than events like canoeing and wrestling. Some events wrestling. Some events you will be able to catch for no cost at all, but they are far and few between and odds are you will only get part of the show. Those events include marathon, include marathon, cycling, and triathlon events. You can also catch a lot of the events on a giant screen with other fans at special locations throughout the city, or why not enjoy city, or why not enjoy them within the nearest pub.

There is another advantage if you already have a ticket. With your ticket in hand you will be able to ride to the venue without paying for any of the public transportation options. Remember that options. Remember that the free transportation is for the day of the event printed on your ticket and it includes the Underground metro stations, light railway, docklands, and even the docklands, and even the national rail stations. You should plan to use public transportation because London is the type of city where it is hard to find affordable parking any day of the parking any day of the week.

With all of that said, now imagine how impossible it will be to do so during an event with the magnitude of the Olympic Games.

the venues

Although the Olympic Although the Olympic Games are billed as “London 2012”, the city will not host all of the events during this summer’s games. There will be events held all throughout the United throughout the United Kingdom, so even if you are in Scotland or Wales you will have a chance to witness sports history. The Opening ceremonies will be held at Olympic Park in Stratford, Park in Stratford,

Pole Vault and other Athletic events will also be held at this venue and since the events are popular, it is recommended that you arrive at the venue at least 30-45 minutes in advance.

the london olympic stadium

www.TheVaultermag.com | the vaulter magazine olympic edition | april 2012 8

Cup soccer in popularity, the Olympic tournament is pretty close. You can also see some of the younger generations of players making their debut in Olympic soccer. The venues holding these The venues holding these events will be the City of Coventry Stadium, Hampden Park in Glasgow, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Old Trafford in Manchester, St. James’ Park in St. James’ Park in Newcastle, and Wembley Stadium in London. These are the same stadiums that hold matches between some of the Premier Leagues and their best teams, so and their best teams, so this will be an extra incentive for fans.

The other venue that figures to be busy this summer will be ExCel. ExCel will host events like Boxing, Weightlifting, Fencing, Judo, Taekwondo, and Wrestling. You can use Wrestling. You can use the Light Railway to get to ExCel from both Central London and Olympic Park.

Arrive Early

If you have not planned your trip to London, then you should make haste and stop wasting your precious time. Hopefully you have already arranged for your lodging, this will be a lodging, this will be a difficult task finding a

place if you have not booked one yet. You should also plan to arrive in London a few days before the games so that you can start your experience earlier. Giving yourself a few Giving yourself a few extra days will let you admire the final touches for the Olympic Games and will also guarantee your successful stay. An early arrival also means that you can give yourself some time to familiarize yourself with the city and all of the quickest routes. These routes will become extremely helpful when extremely helpful when it comes to arriving at your events on time, and with the familiarization

of the city itself. Shopping is crucial for a fun experience, but if you’re a smart shopper, be sure and leave the shopping for the last days of the events, if at all possible after the closing possible after the closing ceremonies because you will be able to get more for your money. London has invested a lot of money so that you can enjoy the games while feeling safe, so make the feeling safe, so make the most of your stay.

www.thevaultermag.com | the vaulter magazine | april 2012

Mark Hollis is the total package in pole vaulting. He is a dedicated, hard worker who has risen in the ranks of the sport as fast and steadily as anybody.

Go back a few years to when he was a senior in Go back a few years to when he was a senior in high school and you would have probably passed him by, never believing he had a chance to become the athlete he has become. After all, there is a profile that people have in their heads about Jumpers and Hollis did not fit it.

Back in his senior year of high school, Hollis Back in his senior year of high school, Hollis was only 5’8” and only 150 lbs. How quickly things change; three years later and the short high school senior grew to over 6 feet tall and, with the help of some hard work in the weight room, he had gone from a hundred and fifty pounds to 185. In 2006 and 2007 he got first place at the NAIA and 2 years later he placed place at the NAIA and 2 years later he placed 5th at the USA outdoors. Most athletes would be thrilled with that kind of resume, but there are reasons to believe that Hollis is not looking to get off the success train.

The image of the man today is of one who has won both the USA Outdoors and Millrose Games in 2010 and last year for the first time in his career Hollis qualified for the World Championship team.

Climbing Through The Ranks

2009 also saw Hollis with both a ranking of 2009 also saw Hollis with both a ranking of number 7 in the US and 38 in the world. That was good, but with the competition Hollis had to get better. He did show improvement in 2010 when he ranked 32nd in the world. 2011 marked a big jump in his career; he moved from 32 in the world to number 16 for indoor pole vaulting. That jump also sky rocketed him pole vaulting. That jump also sky rocketed him in the USA rankings in which he showed up at number 3 indoors and number 6 outdoors. 2011 is the year in which Hollis develops into the USA indoor champion while he got 4th place at the USA outdoors.

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The Rise Of Mark Hollis

The Rise Of Mark Hollis

By vaulter magazine

www.vaultermag.com | the vaulter magazine | april 2012

It is no surprise that another person that Mark looks up to in the sport is Tim Mack; one of the best athletes that the sport has ever seen. “We come from a really similar background, we both jumped at NAIA colleges,” Hollis says of Mack, noting similarities between the two vaulters. That is not all that makes them similar; there is a determination, in both Tim and now in Mark, which makes athletes like them special. Mark has not reached the level of Tim Mack yet, but he also has not stopped growing in the sport.

Hollis knows that he is there not only because of all his hard work but also because he’s had the Hollis knows that he is there not only because of all his hard work but also because he’s had the people around him show a lot of support. His brother Steve pursued the sport of pole vaulting 15 years before Mark. “He’s also been one of my biggest supporters. Right after college I wasn’t making any money and wanted to quit but he gave me inspiration to continue to pursue my dream.” His wife who was also a pole vaulter in college has been there to support Mark and to give him a few pointers. She is not there just for support; Amanda actually knows about the sport and has almost become Hollis’ life coach.

This year there is a good possibility that we will see how high Hollis can go, so stay tuned. This year there is a good possibility that we will see how high Hollis can go, so stay tuned.

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With the upcoming Olympics, eyes are glued on Hollis. Every year he has been ascending in the rankings, there is no doubt about that. He was number 3 last year in the USA rankings and with the way he’s been knocking out the competition he has nowhere to go but up. There is a pattern here, and it up. There is a pattern here, and it almost looks as if Hollis is working through a master plan to get in top form to go for a medal. Of course there is a lot of competition at the top of the world rankings, like Lavillenie from France, Wojciechowski from Poland, Mohr from Germany, and Jeremy Scott Mohr from Germany, and Jeremy Scott who is one of the top Americans in the rankings. There is some thought that if Hollis gets in then he could be one of the surprises of London 2012.

As of now Hollis is focused on his goal while he trains with his wife Amanda by his side. His training methods include a lot of self-coaching; watching video tapes and getting different opinions mainly from Amanda Adam Pierson and one of the legends of the sport Jeff Hartwig. The preparation for the Hartwig. The preparation for the Olympics involves hard work and a lot of healthy eating as he makes it clear that he is staying away from sugars and processed foods. When he is relaxing he likes to fish, hunt, and golf. Hollis also enjoys hanging out with Zoey, his black lab.lab.


Behind Every Good pole vaulter

With a lot of work and a lucky late growth spurt, he was 6’1” by his third year of college and on his way to becoming the athlete he is today. Many hours in the weight room paid off and he filled out to 185 lbs. He has more strength than he did before and Hollis has not looked back since.

By 2008 his name was starting to be heard, but By 2008 his name was starting to be heard, but he was up against some really tough competition and did not have the experience necessary to be on top. He was 9th in qualifying for the Olympics. 2009 was looking great as he and Amanda wed that year and he ranked 5th in the USA outdoors. By 2010 Mark Hollis had arrived. He became the By 2010 Mark Hollis had arrived. He became the 2010 USA Outdoor Champion and he was 1st at the Millrose Games. He got 2nd place at Rotich-Egern and everyone knew who Mark Hollis was. Last year he became the USA Indoor champion as well. He is at the top of his game and looks comfortable competing with Amanda’s support.

A lot of athletes feel the effects of a partner in their lives negatively, but with Amanda that was never a possibility. She loves pole vault jumping. In fact that is how she met Mark; while practic-ing the sport herself. In her freshman year of col-lege Amanda tried vaulting, and did not do badly. She got an 11’8” as her best mark. Eventually she would go back to long and triple jumps. Her previous experience means that she knows and understands the sport, which only serves as sup-port for Mark.

She is proud of her husband and she describes herself as “his biggest fan.” Amanda loves to travel with Mark and finds that being a stay-at- home-fan is a bit difficult. She’s said, “Some meets don’t have live feeds or people there who can keep me updated. Sometimes I just have to wait for the call!” Her understanding and love of the sport means that they do not have to avoid the sport means that they do not have to avoid talking about it like other couples might if just one was a sports fan. Amanda recognizes how big the sport is to both of their lives so she gladly admits that pole vault is something that they both enjoy talking about. “We love pole vault and love discussing it. I can’t always be at his practices so sometimes we talk about what his last practice sometimes we talk about what his last practice was like.”

she is involved

She Is InvolvedAmanda is not the type of person that just talks Amanda is not the type of person that just talks about pole vault jumping to keep her husband happy; she actually loves the sport. She recog-nizes the fact that she is interested in learning all about it, which also shows Mark how much she cares about him. She watches recordings with him acting as Mark’s “life coach” and she is not afraid to put in her two cents. Mark expects to afraid to put in her two cents. Mark expects to have these conversations because Amanda knows the sport and is there for a lot of his practices. If for some reason she is not at the practice they both examine the recording at home. Amanda is involved from the ground up and when Mark needs her after a tough day she is there; not only as coach, but also as his wife.as coach, but also as his wife.

Her involvement becomes more obvious during competition as she admits that she may get a case of the nerves as much if not more often than Mark. “Nail biter! I think I am so much more nervous for him when he jumps than I ever was when I jumped. It’s so nerve-wracking!” she says of being there during competition. As Mark’s career keeps climbing she may not have much to career keeps climbing she may not have much to worry about anymore, because he seems to be getting better with every jump.

Managing

Mark has one of the best managers in the sport, Jeff Hartwig. If the name is familiar it is because it is the same Jeff Hartwig that you think of as the legend of pole vault jumping. As you can imagine that means that Mark’s career is on the right path. Amanda has helped negotiate some of the local events as she describes it “negotiating prize or appearance money with smaller summer prize or appearance money with smaller summer street vaults.” She also recognizes that Hartwig is the manager and that he is a great manager at that. The best way to support Mark is to let Jeff do his thing. “He is so great and knows so many people. He is really on top of things and is wonderful in talking to Mark about what he wants to do for the season, especially with this year being an Olympic year” she said of Hartwig.year” she said of Hartwig.

The Future

Mark Hollis’ future seems bright. It seems like the stars are aligned in his favor. He has the work ethic, the natural talent, the right manage-ment, and no doubt a great wife by his side. That is as much as he can possibly ask for in the year of the London Olympics. The preparations are on the way for the Olympic Trials in June. “I am planning for London,” Amanda says; and as good planning for London,” Amanda says; and as good as Mark’s career is going she probably should. Hollis is one of the top vaulters in the country and though the competition will be tough, he is prob-ably one of the favorites to make the team. “I think one of the best things about being the wife of a top vaulter is just the excitement of his job,” Amanda says and pretty soon they may be able to add the excitement of a trip to the Olympics.

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The old saying is, ‘behind every great man, there is a great woman.’ In Mark Hollis’ life that woman is his wife, Amanda.

Mark’s career has taken off in the last few Mark’s career has taken off in the last few years which no one would have seen when he weighed a slight 158 lbs. and stood at only 5’8” as a senior in High School. Not exactly the profile that you would expect from a jumper. But that is not to say that he wasn’t a good jumper back then; he just did not seem to have the strength to make a huge seem to have the strength to make a huge impact in the sport.

www.thevaultermag.com | The vaulter magazine | april 2012

With a couple of vault jumpers you would think that they have nothing else to talk about, but Pourmarat is glad that other topics also come into conversations; “It’s true than we talk a lot about pole vault but we don’t talk only about but we don’t talk only about that, fortunately!” she said when discussing their relationship.

Lavillenie was not alone in his recovery from the injury. His fiancé Anais Pourmarat is also a jumper and has been with him for about four years. Pourmarat does not have the international recognition that Lavillenie has, but she is recognized nationally but she is recognized nationally as one of the best women jumpers in France. Until recently they both had the same trainer, but now she has a trainer of her own; that is not to say that Renaud does not try to play coach once in a while.to play coach once in a while.

The Support At Home“My pole just broke during a jump, without technical mistake,” remembered Lavillenie while talking about the incident. Most of the time when a pole breaks there is some sort of technical mistake, but a pole can also get but a pole can also get damaged before the jump even when there is no mistake in part of the runner. That is why pole jumping is one of the most mentally demanding sports there are.

Not Much An Athlete Can Do

The recovery was going according to plan, but like any other competitive athlete, the time that he was not jumping was time full of frustration.

“The most difficult part was at “The most difficult part was at the end when I was able to do anything except jump,” said Lavillenie in a recent interview when discussing his recovery.

The time that was not spent The time that was not spent jumping due to the injury was not wasted. Lavillenie took the time to learn about himself; he realized that getting over the injury would not be something that an athlete of his caliber would have a problem doing. would have a problem doing. The injury could have taken a lesser athlete down, because as a pole vault champion you have to rely on more than just your ability. You also have to rely on the pole itself which this time failed him. failed him.

Although the injury to Lavillenie was never considered career threatening in itself, but every time an athlete suffers an injury there is a psychological trauma that comes with it. The psychological damage can be as limiting to the athlete if not limiting to the athlete if not more so than the injury itself. Lavillenie however would have none of that.

Mentally StrongThe pole, which broke in two places; one at the 2/3 mark and one at the left hand is believed to have been faulty during practice that day. The break at the left hand is the one that did the most damage even though he did land awkwardly on his he did land awkwardly on his lower back. All that happened to that area was some bruising, but thankfully there was no damage to the lower back region which could have potentially affected his career in a more negative way.in a more negative way.

The PoleWhen you participate in most sports, an injury seems to be a possibility every day that you train or compete. The best in the world are not exempt to those injuries and that is the case of Renaud Lavillenie who broke his hand while training broke his hand while training last December. An injury to the hand could be devastating for a pole vault athlete, but after a successful surgery Lavillenie is back competing and has his his sights on more Gold.

the break

RENAUD LAVILLENIE

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NO INJURY CAN STOP LAVILLENIE By vaulter magazine


no injury can stop Lavillenie / By vaulter magazine

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No Stopping Now

After the injury it was time to get back to trainAfter the injury it was time to get back to train-ing, and though the injury would be a setback for other athletes, Lavillenie seemed to get right back to the levels he was used to. This year he has already gotten gold once in Istanbul at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships. The training has gotten to pre-injury levels.That is not something that is out character for Lavillenie; in fact he broke Jean Galfione’s French indoor record in vaulting which was 6 meters. Lavillenie broke the record with 6.03 in March of 2011, and although the jump in Istanbul was not as high it was high enough to get the gold. Istanbul was not the first competition after the injury. He got back on track with a 5.72 the injury. He got back on track with a 5.72 meter high jump to start followed by a 5.82m jump in Donetsk, Ukraine at the Pole Vault Stars competition.

An Eye On The Future

Because of Lavillenie’s injury, some of the com-petitions that were planned for earlier in the year had to be cancelled, but now that Renaud is back in competition the eye is on the future. If you look at the sports calendar for pole jumpers you will notice what is happening this summer. The London Summer Olympics are what every pole jumper is looking at this year and Lavillenie is no jumper is looking at this year and Lavillenie is no different. He knows that the weather conditions in London can make jumping more difficult. There is always a chance of rain and wind in London and that can make competing very diffi-cult.

He has been called one of the top hopes for France in the London Olympic Games this summer. His comeback has been on a good track getting some great jumps along the way. He has been clearing the 6 meter mark on a regular basis and has the work ethic that the top athletes have. Injury or no injury Lavillenie should be ready to compete in the summer and if he keeps ready to compete in the summer and if he keeps his comeback going the way that it is now going, he will be a favorite hold his flag high with gold around his neck.

Even with the different amounts of exposure that they get in the sport, they still find a lot of time to train together, and the injury could have put a halt on the training but one good thing about the injury was the timing. The fact that the injury happened around the holidays meant that not much pole training time was lost. “It was the Holidays, time was lost. “It was the Holidays, Christmas and New Years’ eve, so we used to spend more time with the family than on the track,” Lavillenie said.

14www.thevaultermag.com | the vaulter magazine | april 2012

Tips and Tricks to Having a Great Time at the Olympics

no tickets no problem

You may have been a bit late for getting tickets You may have been a bit late for getting tickets to the opening at the Millennium stadium, and you are not alone. Most people visiting London during the Olympic Games will not have such tick-ets, making it one of the most expensive commod-ities that you can get your hands on. Not having a ticket to the opening ceremony should not get you down because there will be a lot of things to do during the Olympics outside of Millennium sta-dium. You should enjoy the ceremony with other fans if at all possible close to your hotel to avoid the chaos outside.

If you are close to any of the big three locations you will be able to watch the opening ceremonies on a giant screen with thousands of fans; the big three are Victoria Park, Trafalgar Square, and Hyde Park. There will be other locations that will provide a similar experience to visitors and locals alike to enjoy the opening ceremony and most of the games throughout the UK.the games throughout the UK.

Some events in the Olympics do not require a ticket to attend and that means that even if you were late to purchase tickets you can still witness history. The events that are free to watch include the Men and Women’s marathon events (they are free to watch, but you will need a ticket if you want to see the finish line), The cycling part of both the men’s and women’s triathlon, some parts both the men’s and women’s triathlon, some parts of the women’s cycling race, and the time trials for the road cycling events for both men and women.

Not Everything Happens In London

You may be a sports fan, but that does not mean that you like being in the large crowds; you would think that the lack of love of large crowds would create a dilemma when you want to attend the Olympic Games; not so this year in London. London is a very crowded city to begin with, but not all the events will take place in London and that means that the people who don’t like to take that means that the people who don’t like to take the underground transportation with barely any room to breathe will have an option to still enjoy the Olympics experience. The other benefit is also that when you get away from the city you are able to save some money in lodging and actual event attending.

Every sports fan in the world is looking forward to the Olympic Games this summer, and a few of them will have a chance to see it live. The live Olympic experience is one of those things that remain in a fan’s bucket dream until they have done it once; even then it simply gets replaced with “attending the Olympics a second time”. But the tickets the Olympics a second time”. But the tickets are limited and even in a city like London the space is limited; so for the very few fans that will have a chance to attend the Olympics this year, here are a few tips and tricks that you can follow to make the experience that of a lifetime.


The right place at the right time before the events start gives you a unique opportunity to see the Olympic torch and follow the festivities in the area. You do not have to wait until July to do so because the Olympic torch will get to the UK in mid-May. The torch will really go through the entire UK to give most of the visitors and locals a chance to see the flame. If you are in the same town as the Olympic flame, then that means that you can stay there for the celebrations that same night. It is a great way to get in the spirit of the games well in advance of the actual games starting and the opening events taking place.

shopping throughout londonshopping throughout london

You can expect that most souvenirs will be a bit overpriced, but that does not mean that you will You can expect that most souvenirs will be a bit overpriced, but that does not mean that you will not be able to get yourself something that will help you remember the games. Get off the beaten path and make your way down the lower level shopping areas for the best discounts. One of these shops that you will have to visit for steep discounts is Crest of London, located at 1 Leicester Square. If all else fails you can get all of your Olympic gear straight from the source on-line at http://shop.london2012.com. Having them with you will remind you that you were part of the Olympic experience in London 2012 and that is a once in a lifetime experience.

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Some of the events that you will be able to enjoy outside of London include kayaking, mountain biking, canoeing, and rowing which are all taking place not so far from the city itself. Other cities will also host parts of the soccer tournament which are some of the most anticipated events; cities to host the anticipated events; cities to host the soccer tournament include Manchester, Glasgow, Coventry, Cardiff, and New Castle. It is a great opportunity to see some of the stadiums that host the best clubs in Europe. You can also see some events if you decide to stay in Wales and Scotland.and Scotland.

Arrive Early

If you do not have your plane tickets yet, you should really book them as soon as possible. You should avoid getting into London after the games have started for two reasons; the first is that you are able to get there with a smaller crowd and that means that you do not have to deal with the huge lines and have to deal with the huge lines and wait at the airport because of the Olympic crowd. The second reason is so that you can get settled and take in all that the city has to offer before the craziness starts.

As it is the case when a city hosts an event of the magnitude of the Olympics the city goes through some changes. Even if you have been to London before some parts will be very different when you arrive this time around. You will also be able to see the final touches given to the city just before the games given to the city just before the games begin.


Jordan Scott is not your average athlete; he looks different especially when he comes out with red hair. He trains hard, but at the same time enjoys the foods that most athletes would never even come close to. He has had a few lows in his career, but is now enjoying one of the biggest highs. In a sport such as pole vaulting those highs must stay there or you can vaulting those highs must stay there or you can come up short. He has also seen steady progress in the marks that he keeps obtaining, because he is a hard worker; but above all that he has been described as a natural.

His career started when he was only 15 and was in 9th grade. Every year since then he has been making progress first as a High School athlete and then as one of the best college athletes in the country. He has personal records of 5.71 outdoor and 5.55 indoor, but he knows that if he wants to be in the elite of pole vault jumpers he must get past that point. pole vault jumpers he must get past that point. He is on the right track with his progress and given a couple of years he has the potential to be one of the most talked about athletes in the sport. Even with his unconventional approach to pole vault jumping he has his eyes set on the goal and he has great people as role models. When asked about the jumpers that serve as his When asked about the jumpers that serve as his inspiration the names he mentioned were Jeff Hartwig, Tim Mack, and Derek Miles.

The Role Models

Everybody who loves the sport of pole vaulting knows Jeff Hartwig. Hartwig is one of the members of the 6 meter club which is an exclusive club to say the least. From 1998 to 2002 he was never ranked below third place in the world rankings and never below second in the US rankings. Hartwig is a legend in the sport to say the least. He has set many records sport to say the least. He has set many records and only two men have ever jumped higher than him in any indoor competition. If you want a good role model to follow then Jeff Hartwig is a great choice.

Not your average athlete

Young And Sometimes Unorthodox

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By vaulter magazine


a lot of credit as he seems to be one of those coaches that can always get the best out of an athlete. Under Hayes watchful eye, Scott has gone from jumping 5.22m all the way to 5.71 which puts him right there with the elite jumpers of his generation, and he is still young enough that he can go up some more.

That potential is what has the people who watch the sport excited about Jordan Scott. He can get That potential is what has the people who watch the sport excited about Jordan Scott. He can get to the same level as some of the athletes he admires. He is ambitious although you have to read between the lines in order to recognize his ambition. He thinks that in order to get the gold this summer in London a jumper will have to get to the 6m club as he predicts that the winner will jump 6.05m; that is a very high number but the athletes are getting better so it is not that far fetch.

Besides his athletic inspiration and guidance, Jordan Scott also recognizes that the people around Besides his athletic inspiration and guidance, Jordan Scott also recognizes that the people around him have helped make him the athlete that he is today. Like most great athletes he has had the unconditional support of his parents who according to him have been his support throughout his life. “They spent a fortune on my training in high school and gave me invaluable support my whole life” is how Scott puts it when talking about the support that he got at home.

The Life Outside The Sport

As you may already have guessed it, Scott is a hard worker. You do not get the improvements that As you may already have guessed it, Scott is a hard worker. You do not get the improvements that he has made without dedicating yourself to the sport. He is also a regular young man outside of the sport. He jokingly admits that his diet is full of Lots of carbs, sugar, peanut butter, pizzas, chicken, taco bell, and water”. That does not sound like the diet of a top level athlete, but it is working for him, and he knows that it is not something anybody can do.

Outside the world of track and field his hobbies seem to be things that help him relax like fishing, Outside the world of track and field his hobbies seem to be things that help him relax like fishing, tennis, woodworking and golfing, but do not expect Jordan Scott to be famous for PGA appearances. He knows what he is best at and as long as he remains dedicated and focused he should become a household name to everyone who watches pole vault jumping.

Of course another one of Jordan Scott’s role models is Tim Mack, yet another legend. Mack is also a member of the elusive 6m club and a gold medalist at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, and someone who has served as an inspiration to many jumpers mainly because they all want the same thing because they all want the same thing that Mack got in 2004, Olympic gold.

Derek Miles on the other hand has yet to reach the 6 meter mark, but that does not make him any less special. Follow his career and you will notice that Miles has done something that very few athletes do; he has remained very consistent throughout his career always remaining at the top of the rankings and remaining at the top of the rankings and he seems to always be on the hunt when a pole vault competition is taking place. He came really close in 2008 to getting a medal placing 4th, but he finished first that year in the Olympic trials and later that year got first place at the World Athletics finals in Stuttgart Germany.Athletics finals in Stuttgart Germany.

Coaching

Jordan Scott’s role models are athletes that have made their impact in the sport and with the help of his coach Tom Hayes, Scott plans to join his role models. Scott clearly has an admiration for his coach and credits him with the progress that he has made. “He's been one of my best friends throughout the one of my best friends throughout the past 6 years and I couldn't have come this far without him” Scott said of Hayes. It is no surprise that Hayes gets

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role models continued


Mary Saxer is no stranger to success in track and field. She has been making her name recognized since high school when she became a state champion a total of four times while in Lancaster High School in NY. You can say that Saxer knew that she was a natural when it came to athletics, but it wasn’t until she attended a long jump camp that she made the attended a long jump camp that she made the discovery that would change her future in athletics.

One of the coaches in attendance at a training meet suggested to Mary that she try pole vaulting. You can say that the coach who suggested that (Coach Rick Suhr) is a genius and has an eye for talent because on her very first year participating in the event Mary Placed 2nd at the Indoor Nationals. That year is the one that was the base for a That year is the one that was the base for a career that had her break the national record for girls a total of seven times. Saxer, in fact, still holds the record in the state of NY. With all the success that she got in High School she attracted the attention of universities and she finally settled for Notre Dame where she received a full scholarship. This was just the received a full scholarship. This was just the start for her success though because Mary then went on to break school records and to become a 3 time Big East Champion.

Her Thoughts On The Sport

One of the things you will hear from Mary Saxer is the same that you hear from other pole vaulters and from people who know the sport. Like many other pole vaulters and spectators, Mary Saxer feels as though the new rules are ridiculous. Not touching the pole after the competition starts for example; “I understand if the rule was made just so in case understand if the rule was made just so in case there are two pits it forbids vaulters from continuing to practice on the other pit once the competition has begun. But as far as not being able to even touch your pole at all, I think it is ridiculous,” Saxer said of the new rule. She of course, is not alone in that sentiment, as almost every jumper whom you might ask will tell you every jumper whom you might ask will tell you the same thing.

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Her Pursuit Of The Olympic Dream

Her Pursuit Of The Olympic Dream

By vaulter magazine


Mary Saxer knows now that her potential in the sport is limitless and she knows what it will take to make the Olympics and perhaps get a medal there, but to get that medal she will more than likely need to go for another personal best. She expects that a gold medal winner in London will have to jump 5.00m. She is training hard and the first step will be to make the team. After that who knows what will happen.

For now you will find Mary training hard in South Bend and taking care of the nutritional For now you will find Mary training hard in South Bend and taking care of the nutritional requirements. As for the new generations, Mary suggests that they listen to their coaches and “just act like a sponge and try and take in as much as you can from coaches and fellow vaulters because there is so much to learn.” Meanwhile, young jumpers would do well to watch Saxon’s technique, because she is poised to be one of the biggest stars in the sport.

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Coaching

Though Saxer is a natural by all Though Saxer is a natural by all definitions that does not mean she is not a hard worker. She has been training with Coach Danny Wilkerson for a few years now. When asked why she chose to remain with Coach Wilkerson at Notre Dame Saxer said, “He is very knowledgeable about the event and is knowledgeable about the event and is always looking to improve on his vault knowledge.” Considering the progress that Mary has been making and all the success she has had while at Notre Dame, it makes all the sense in the world for Wilkerson to remain her coach.coach.

As far as whom she looks up to, Saxer has one of the best people as her inspiration. She looks up to Stacy Dragila as her role model and you cannot have a better one than that. Dragila won the Olympic gold back in 2000 in Sydney; that is the gold that Saxer is hopefully chasing this year in Saxer is hopefully chasing this year in London. Dragila was also on top of almost every important contest in which she participated during most of her career. Could Saxer get to that level? She has been one of the best jumpers recently, so the skies the limit.


While all sports require the athlete to focus on every single motion and action, pole vaulting requires it more so. Paul Litchfield is one of the athletes that knows everything about the importance of every single step that you take when pole vaulting and the Tuxedo Man (known as the Tuxedo Man due to the uniforms he has worn to events) is glad to share his he has worn to events) is glad to share his knowledge with the younger generations of vault jumpers. Of course Litchfield’s technique is almost surgical when he is jumping, but there are other things that he does that have gotten him to be one of the more recognized names in the sport.

The training

Paul Litchfield knows that the first thing that Paul Litchfield knows that the first thing that you have to do if you want to excel at the sport is to listen to your coach. A jumper who listens to his/her coach is more likely to jump with confidence and that confidence is necessary for vault jumping; Litchfield thinks that the self confidence is even higher in the importance level than skill “faith in yourself and what you level than skill “faith in yourself and what you are doing in that moment is far more important than any technique you can learn” said Litchfield when talking about the importance of self-confidence.

Coaching is a big part of the training, and Litchfield has one of the best coaches on his side (not necessarily by his side as they both live in different states). Dave Nielsen, who is a very experienced coach on Litchfield’s corner; if you recognize Nielsen’s name that is because he is the same coach that took Stacey Dragila all the way to the gold medal in the Olympics, all the way to the gold medal in the Olympics, and he is now the coach at Idaho State. Although there is some physical distance between athlete and coach they still communicate a lot, and when he is not there, Litchfield tries to “hear his voice when I am jumping”.

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Pole Vaulting With The Tuxedo Man

Pole Vaulting With The Tuxedo Man

By vaulter magazine


Hobbies of an Olympic athlete

You may think that a healthy diet and an intense training routine would be enough to get to the top, You may think that a healthy diet and an intense training routine would be enough to get to the top, but once you examine the hobbies for an athlete like Litchfield you realize that even the hobbies help create the athlete that he is. When asked about his hobbies outside of the track the list reads like that of an extreme sportsman. Mountain biking, rock climbing, snowboarding, are all tough sports to practice and yet with all the hard work that he already gets on his own sport, The Tuxedo Man enjoys those activities as well.

However Litchfield knows the difference between his sport and his hobbies. No one should be However Litchfield knows the difference between his sport and his hobbies. No one should be concerned about the possibility of an injury during an Olympic year coming from one of his hobbies because he is focused on the job at hand. All other things and hobbies have taken a back seat to the possibility of earning gold in the Olympics. He is focused on the summer this year setting his own goals for the Olympics with a mark of 5.97m; that certainly is a tall order because his personal record outdoors is 5.55m. Add to that the weather conditions for outdoor competition in London and it can result in a very tricky day for all jumpers.

InspirationInspiration

If an athlete is going to compete at the Olympic level, he/she needs to draw inspiration from other athletes or people in their lives. For Litchfield there are plenty of places to draw inspiration from. Of course he credits coach Nielsen as the most instrumental person in his career, but when he looks around at other jumpers he also gets that inspiration from the likes of Renaud Lavillene, the French jumper who seems to be the favorite every time that he jumps, as well as from Tim Mack.

The reason Litchfield names those two jumpers is because of “their powerful states of mind and The reason Litchfield names those two jumpers is because of “their powerful states of mind and courage.” Lavillene for starters is coming back from an injury suffered in December and he already won tournaments in both the Ukraine and Turkey, and many have Renaud as favorite to take the gold this summer, even after the injury. Tim Mack is another legend of the sport and one of the members of what is called the 6m club made of jumpers who have surpassed the 6 meter mark when he got a 6.01 at the 2004 IAAF World Athletics Tournament.

Dedication

Litchfield is ready for London, and he has been ready for a long time. Ever since he started Litchfield is ready for London, and he has been ready for a long time. Ever since he started jumping at the age of 16 he has been training hard, and now as the Tuxedo man he wants to bring the gold home with him. You will find Litchfield training in his parents’ barn listening to his coach in his mind. He is not the conventional jumper that thinks there is only one way to jump, but he is one of the more consistent jumpers that you will ever see.

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good habits

As you may imagine, being an athlete of As you may imagine, being an athlete of Litchfield’s caliber requires that he have good habits. To him that means that there are little to no processed sugars in his diet. That may not be easy for people who are not as determined as him, but the Tuxedo Man knows that in order to get his tuxedo outfits to fit him order to get his tuxedo outfits to fit him he must remain away from the processed sugars. There is also a protein regiment that he follows before and after any training session.

Nutrition is very important for pole vault jumpers because the body will burn energy and injuries can happen at any point due to a broken pole or simply during landing. That is why Litchfield not only eats right; he also has to take vitamin supplements. And if you think that a man that wears a tuxedo looking that a man that wears a tuxedo looking outfit to his jumps must be drinking something funny then you will have difficulty believing that Litchfield does not drink any alcoholic drinks anymore. Regarding that part of his lifestyle Litchfield says that he “can tell the monumental difference. Whoever said monumental difference. Whoever said that it would be easy to be an athlete?

www.Thevaultermag.com | The VAulter magazine |april 2012

Location:

Burnsville Minnesota

Do you Have Facilities Indoor or Outdoor:

Indoor Training Center 35,000 sqft

coaching staff and facility:

6-8 coaches in our building, 60 meter 4 lane 6-8 coaches in our building, 60 meter 4 lane track, Olympic size Vault and h.j. pits,.

Athletes training:

280 track kids all event, 140-160 pole vaulters in the 5 month winter season (about 50 vaulter year round)

Year round training, seasonal, weekend camps, travel Year round training, seasonal, weekend camps, travel team ̀USATF Club:

Yes (30-424) ̀Club Training, June-March with club meets and traveling team (beach vault, street vault and usatf meet) H.S. season March-June we just offer weekend coaching and couple days during the week to key up on skills

EST 2008 www.fuzionathletics.comEST 2008 www.fuzionathletics.com

Phone: 612-987-6147E-mail: [email protected]

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By VAULTER Magazine

If your making a trip to Burnsville, Minnesota this year, or you live locally, this may be the camp for you. This nice cozy in-door facility is sure to hit the spot when you feel the need to get out and vault your life away; winter, spring, summer, or fall.

Don’t let the summer trip to grandma’s house get you down! Find a camp near you


Location:

Jamestown, Kansas


Indoor Facility with a 75’ runway, open to Indoor Facility with a 75’ runway, open to anyone who wants to jump. No charge! We also have a trampoline, climbing wall, weight lifting area, slackline, 15 meter auto timer, pole flex testing system, and a few other fun amenities.

Estimated Size of Camp each year (Athletes per year):

Estimated 150 fairly regular club members with Estimated 150 fairly regular club members with many occasional visiting jumpers.

Time Frame of Camp (when do you offer sessions):

We do a few camps in the summer, a few events We do a few camps in the summer, a few events (Featuring Doctoberfest. Last year we had 80 jumpers, 200 guests, a German Oktoberfest with Food, Drink and Music). we have mostly regular jumpers, with a lot of visiting jumpers.

Years Club has been around:

Mark Breault has coached with a school during Mark Breault has coached with a school during the season then had a summer club for 12 years. The past 5 year we have officially been an exclusively Tailwind Pole Vault Club year round for a total of 17 years.

www.tailwindpolevaultclub.com Phone: 785-243-1454Phone: 785-243-1454E-mail: [email protected]

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By VAULTER Magazine

Jamestown, Kansas the center of the United States may be your final destination this year. If this is the case and you have some time on your hands, feel free to joining this camp with multiple dates coming soon. Tailwind had two professional pole vaulters, Daniel Ryland and Paul Litchfeild, coach the kids. Nineteen area kids participated.

Flying high has a whole new meaning for this camp. Fly high with tailwind


Location:

Excelsior Springs, MO


HUGE indoor facility.

Estimated Size of Camp each year (Athletes per year):

100 campers during the camp

Time Frame of Camp (when do you offer sessions):Time Frame of Camp (when do you offer sessions):

Throughout the year, Coach Cooper offers day camps, weekend mini-camps, week camps and club vaults. Check back for dates, times and registration opportunity. Regular Hour Group Sessions and Private Lessons. October thru August 11, months per year.

Practice and CompetitionPractice and Competition Years Club has been around:

Since 1999

www.justvault.org Phone: 816-223-1956Phone: 816-223-1956E-mail: [email protected]

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By VAULTER Magazine

Have the need to get off the ground? If your near Excelsior Springs, MO that need can easily be fulfilled with the flexibility of this camp and private lessons. The Just Vault facility is a high regarded indoor facility that boasts plenty of room and jumping expertise. If you need a pole to fit your size, they have what you need to fulfill your jump.

The place to pole vault when your in Missouri


Location:

Sioux Falls, South Dakota Do you Have Facilities Indoor or Outdoor:

Indoor and outsoor facilities

Estimated Size of Camp each year (Athletes per year): Estimated Size of Camp each year (Athletes per year):

25 or more

Time Frame of Camp (when do you offer sessions):

June - July 2012 www.usfcougarcamps.com Phone: 402 372-7157Phone: 402 372-7157E-mail:[email protected]

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By VAULTER Magazine

This camp is designed to give each vaulter a thorough understanding of the pole vault technique and training. Additionally camp participants will receive one-on-one instruction, participate in numerous drills, spend significant time on each phase of the vault, participate in vault sessions and video analysis sessions.

Pole Vault at the university level with the university of sioux falls

VAULTER Magazine April 1, 2012

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Transcript of VAULTER Magazine April 1, 2012