Tom McNeely: Olympic Pole Vault

Artist: Tom McNeely
1935 -
Nationality: Canadian
Artwork Year: 1991
Image Size: 19.25 by 20 inches
Overall Size: 21.25 by 25.5 inches
Medium: Water Color on Water Color Paper

From the very first, the pole vault has been a test of timing, coordination and agility. Primarily a sport reserved for men, the pole vault was part of the 1896 Athens Olympics; that event was taken by an American, William Welles Hoyt who vaulted ten feet, ten inches. Since the very first, American athletes have dominated this competition. In the 1952 Helsinki Games, for example, American Bob Richards literally rose to the challenge, vaulting fourteen feet, eleven inches to an Olympic record. Richards, a theology professor in California, was promptly dubbed "The Vaulting Vicar" by the attending international press. The year marked the first time that the Soviet Union competed in the Olympics and although it was during the height of the "Cold War," Richards acted as a self-appointed "goodwill ambassador" by encouraging friendly competition between athletes of the two countries. The next Olympics -- 1956 in Melbourne -- Richards again took the gold, becoming the only person to vault to two gold medals and three total medals in the event. American men continue to fare well in the event of the pole vault, rising to new levels -- today's vaulters are clearing heights nearly double those cleared by the pole vaulters of almost a century ago.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the U.S. 29¢ Tribute to the Olympics stamp issued July 12, 1991.

Artwork Copyright © 1991 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB12996

US$ Price: $2,700.00

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