Sam Kendricks

Sam Kendricks
Kendricks at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Personal information
Birth nameSamuel Hathorn Kendricks
NationalityAmerican
Born (1992-09-07) September 7, 1992
Oceanside, California, U.S.
Home townOxford, Mississippi, U.S.
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1]
Weight175 lb (79 kg)[2]
Sport
Country United States
SportTrack and field
EventPole vault
College teamUniversity of Mississippi
ClubNike
U.S. Army
UST-ESSX
Turned pro2014
Achievements and titles
Personal bestsPole vault:
  • Outdoor

6.06 m (19 ft 10+1⁄2 in) (Des Moines 2019)

  • Indoor
6.01 m (19 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (Rouen 2020)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris Pole vault
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Pole vault
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 London Pole vault
Gold medal – first place 2019 Doha Pole vault
World Indoor Championships
Silver medal – second place 2016 Portland Pole vault
Silver medal – second place 2018 Birmingham Pole vault
Silver medal – second place 2024 Glasgow Pole vault
Bronze medal – third place 2025 Nanjing Pole vault
Diamond League
First place 2017 Pole vault
First place 2019 Pole vault
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2013 Kazan Pole vault
Continental Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 Ostrava Pole vault

Samuel Hathorn Kendricks (born September 7, 1992) is an American pole vaulter.[1] He is a three-time indoor and six-time outdoor national champion (2014–2019), the 2016 Olympics bronze[3][4] and 2024 Olympics silver medalist, and the 2017 and 2019 World Champion. In 2019, Kendricks set the American pole vault record at 6.06 m,[5][6] tying him with Steve Hooker for fourth all time. He later won the gold medal at the World Championships in Doha.

Early life

Kendricks vaulted for Oxford High School in his hometown of Oxford, Mississippi, leading his team to the 2009 MHSAA 5A State Championship. He vaulted 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m) to set the then-state record, later broken in 2023 by his brother John Scott with a vault of 17 ft 1 in (5.2 m).[7] Sam won the state meet outdoors in 2010 and 2011, and indoors in 2011. He also lettered in cross country and soccer. In 2011, he was named the Gatorade boys' high school track and field athlete of the year for Mississippi.[8]

NCAA

While vaulting for the University of Mississippi, Kendricks won the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Championships.[8] He broke both Ole Miss Rebels pole vault records as a freshman.[9] Kendricks announced that he would be turning pro in 2014.[10]

Professional

2015

Kendricks set his personal best of 5.86 m (19 ft 2+1⁄2 in) at the indoor 2015 Reno Pole Vault Summit. Kendrick uses a hand hold at 15 ft 5 in (4.69 m) and from his performance in Reno claims the "Push-off" World Record at 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m).[11][12] He won the men's pole vault at 2015 US Outdoor Championships in 5.75 m (18 ft 10+1⁄4 in).[13] He won the prelims of the 2015 World Championships in Athletics – Men's pole vault and finished 9th in 5.65 m (18 ft 6+1⁄4 in).

2016

After setting a personal best outdoors at the IAAF World Challenge in Beijing, at 5.92 m (19 ft 5 in) Kendricks won the US Olympic Trials at 5.91 m (19 ft 4+1⁄2 in). At the 2016 Summer Olympics, he won the bronze medal.[14] Kendricks also garnered attention during the Olympics when he stopped mid run during a pole vault attempt to stand at attention while "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played.[15]

2017

Kendricks celebrates winning the 2017 World Championship title in London, England, UK.

On June 24, 2017, Kendricks became the 22nd person to join the six meters club by vaulting exactly 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) while winning the 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California.

2019

On July 27, 2019, Kendricks set the American pole vault record by jumping 6.06 m.[5][6]

2021

Kendricks placed second in the US Olympic trials at 5.91 m (19 ft 4+3⁄4 in) tied with KC Lightfoot, however, he was tested positive for COVID-19 in the Olympic Village, and had to withdraw from the 2020 Summer Olympics as a result, missing the pole vault competition.[16]

2024

Leading up to the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials final Kendricks stated that he might be inclined to forgo the 2024 Olympics after his "bitter" experience from Tokyo 2020 when he claimed that his positive COVID-19 test had been a false positive and the USOC had done nothing to fight on his behalf.[17] On June 23, 2024, he won his 7th outdoor (11th overall) U.S. National Pole Vault championship by clearing 5.92 m (19 ft 5 in) and earned an automatic bid for the Olympics.[18] Shortly after the competition was over he confirmed that he would be going to Paris after all.[19] In the 2024 Olympic Men's Pole Vault final he claimed the Silver Medal for Team USA by clearing a height of 5.95 m (19 ft 6+1⁄4 in).[20][21] He was bested by Armand "Mondo" Duplantis who set a new world record at 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in).[20]

Personal life

Kendricks is the son of Scott and Marni Kendricks; his father is also one of his coaches. He has a twin brother, Tom.[22]

On December 29, 2017, Kendricks married Leanne Zimmer in Oxford, MS.

As of 2024, Kendricks is a member of the United States Army Reserve.[22]

Competition record

Year Competition Venue Position Notes
Representing  United States
2013 Summer Universiade Kazan, Russia 1st 5.60
2015 World Championships Beijing, China 9th 5.65
2016 World Indoor Championships Portland, Oregon 2nd 5.80
Summer Olympics Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 3rd 5.85
2017 World Championships London, United Kingdom 1st 5.95
DécaNation Angers, France 1st 5.75
2018 World Indoor Championships Birmingham, United Kingdom 2nd 5.85
2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar 1st 5.97
2024 World Indoor Championships Glasgow, United Kingdom 2nd 5.90
Summer Olympics Paris, France 2nd 5.95
2025 World Indoor Championships Nanjing, China 3rd 5.90

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Sam Kendricks". teamusa.org. USOC. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  2. ^ Sam Kendricks Archived August 26, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. rio2016.com
  3. ^ Hipps, Tim (August 18, 2016). "Army Reserve officer takes Olympic bronze in pole vault". www.army.mil. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "Men Pole Vault SR". flashresults.com. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Shinn, Peggy (July 27, 2019). "Sam Kendricks Sets American Record And Wins Record Sixth Consecutive Pole Vault National Title". Team USA. Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Kendricks tops 6.06m in Des Moines| News | iaaf.org". www.iaaf.org. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/john-scott-kendricks was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Sam Kendricks Bio – Ole Miss Rebels Official Athletic Site Ole Miss Rebels Official Athletic Site – Track & Field Archived August 7, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Olemisssports.com. Retrieved on August 17, 2016.
  9. ^ Oxford Citizen interview with Sam in 2014. Oxfordcitizen.com (May 23, 2014). Retrieved on August 17, 2016.
  10. ^ Sam announced his professional ambitions in 2014 with Nike. Clarionledger.com (September 17, 2014). Retrieved on August 17, 2016.
  11. ^ "New push-off world record of 1.36 meters (54 in) set on Essx Recoil Advanced". UST Essx (January 19, 2015). Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  12. ^ Sam Kendricks Pole Vault Summit 2015. VAULTER Magazine (January 19, 2015). Retrieved on August 17, 2016.
  13. ^ USATF Championships – 6/25/2015 to 6/28/2015 Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore. Archived October 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine usatf.org
  14. ^ "Sam Kendricks wins 3rd place in Men's Pole Vault". Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  15. ^ Stump, Scott (August 22, 2016). "US pole vaulter Sam Kendricks stops mid-stride to stand at attention for national anthem". Today News. NBC. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  16. ^ Siemaszko, Corky (July 29, 2021). "U.S. pole vault champ out of Games after positive Covid test". NBC News. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  17. ^ Kilgore, Adam (June 22, 2024). "Bitter over 2021, pole vaulter Sam Kendricks may turn down Olympic bid". Washington Post. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  18. ^ "Results". Results. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  19. ^ Denney, Jarrid (June 24, 2024). "Sam Kendricks wins 11th national title, sounds off on Olympic Games". Statesman Journal. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  20. ^ a b ""Mondo" Duplantis Shatters World Record, Defends Gold Medal, As Sam Kendricks Soars To Silver". Team USA. August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  21. ^ Schnell, Lindsay (August 5, 2024). "Sam Kendricks wins pole vault silver despite spikes puncturing hand". USA TODAY. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Sam Kendricks: Athlete Bio". Team USA. United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
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