Pennel, John Thomas

▪ 1994

      U.S. pole-vaulter (b. July 25, 1940, Memphis, Tenn.—d. Sept. 26, 1993, Santa Monica, Calif.), shattered the pole-vaulting world record eight times during the 1960s, beginning in 1963 with a 4.95-m (16-ft 2 3/4-in) vault and a thrilling 5.20-m (17-ft 3/4-in) benchmark vault, which made him the first person to clear 5.18 m (17 ft). Pennel, who competed for Northeast Louisiana State College (later Northeast Louisiana University), used the then revolutionary fibreglass pole instead of a traditional aluminum pole to accomplish his stunning feats. Though Pennel was the recipient of the 1963 Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete and was expected to take home a medal from the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, he suffered injuries that prevented him from gaining a top finish (he placed 11th). Pennel placed a disappointing fifth at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. In 1969, however, he cleared 5.44 m (17 ft 10 1/4 in), a personal best. A succession of injuries forced Pennel to retire from vaulting.

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