Sam Kendricks successfully pole vaults to a medal in the Rio Olympics. Photo courtesy of James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
RIO DE JANEIRO – It was a special night in Brazil for University of Mississippi alumnus Sam Kendricks, who captured a bronze medal in the men’s pole vault Aug. 15 at the 2016 Olympic Games.
In a dramatic competition that came down to three final vaulters, Kendricks rose to the occasion by clearing 5.85 meters (19-2.25) on his first try. He had three very close attempts at 5.93 m/19-5.5, while Brazil’s Thiago Braz da Silva claimed gold with an Olympic record mark of 6.03 m and defending champion Renaud Lavillenie of France won silver with a clearance at 5.98 m.
Kendricks is the first American man to win an Olympic medal in the pole vault since 2004, and he’s the third Ole Miss track and field representative to medal at the Olympics. Brittney Reese, who was the women’s long jump gold medalist in 2012, won a silver medal at this year’s games. Tony Dees was the silver medalist in the 110-meter hurdles in 1992.
Before the Olympic finals began, Kendricks dedicated his performance to the six Oxford citizens who died in a plane crash and the children and families they left behind. By many accounts, his performance in Rio was a healing balm the town of Oxford needed after such a tragic occurrence.
The hundreds of fans that watched him from the Square in his hometown of Oxford cheered him on with fervor as each bar was raised a bit higher. He is the first Olympian from the small town in which he grew up, graduated from both high school and college, and still lives and trains.
Kendricks was lauded by NBC commentators and across the social media landscape for his great sportsmanship and class, as he was seen congratulating his opponents and cheering for each competitor throughout the night.
“I know that the Olympics is like a high tide, it raises all boats and it brings the best out of all of us,” Kendricks said. “I was so happy to watch my friend Thiago (Braz) set his personal best in his home country in front of his home crowd, and I think that I thrived off of that as well.
“I did not set a personal best but I attempted it. I missed it very close three times, so I cannot be ashamed of my effort. I’m very proud of my bronze medal, what me and my coach (father and Ole Miss alumnus Scott Kendricks) and my family have achieved. This particular competition was a lot of fun for me – I knew all of the competitors by name, they’re all good friends of mine. We’ve traveled together and have competed together many times. We even trade victories very often.”
It’s been an impressive rise to international prominence for Kendricks, who was a two-time NCAA champion and two-time SEC champion in three seasons at Ole Miss. Since turning pro, he has won five U.S. pole vault titles, set a U.S. Olympic Trials record earlier this summer, was ninth at last year’s IAAF World Championships and runner-up at this year’s IAAF World Indoor Championships in March.
Kendricks originally enrolled at Ole Miss as an engineering major but later changed his major and graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies degree.
“Having started out as an engineering major, his twin brother, Tom, having graduated BSME in 2015, and his mom, Marni, also an alumni and assistant dean for undergraduate academics, we fully consider Sam to be part of the Ole Miss engineering family,” Dean Alex Cheng said.
“We proudly posted a ‘Jump Sam Jump’ sign in front of Brevard Hall during the Olympics and have in the past marked his winning pole vault heights with a tape measure in the staircase of the building – a mark that reaches up to the second floor.”
For complete coverage of Ole Miss in the 2016 Olympics, visit http://www.RebsInRio.com.