Charles Dvorak - Use of Bamboo Pole

Use of Bamboo Pole

Dvorak is also known as the first pole vaulter to use a bamboo pole in lieu of the traditional, heavier ash or hickory poles. He first used a bamboo pole at the 1900 Summer Olympics. The hickory pole he had brought with him from Ann Arbor broke on a practice vault. One observer recalled, "we heard a ripping, tearing noise, and looking around saw him lying on the ground beside his pole, which was broken and useless." In spite of the "severe jarring" received in the fall, Dvorak borrowed a light bamboo pole from a Danish competitor and used it to complete his participation in the consolation event. Dvorak's coach, Keene Fitzpatrick, opined that Dvorak would have been able to reach a height close to 12 feet if he had not been forced to jump with a new, unfamiliar pole. Dvorak worked with a bamboo pole for approximately a year from 1902 to 1903, though he discarded the bamboo pole for his old pole when he broke the world's record in May 1903.

In 1963, Dvorak, at age 84, was interviewed by Life magazine about the controversy over the introduction that year of fiberglass poles. Dvorak shared his recollection about murmurs that were exchanged when the bamboo pole was introduced. With respect to the use of fiberglass poles, he stated that he "doesn't know what all the hollering is about."