Earl Bell - Pole Vault (Inducted 2002)

Born August 25, 1955

One of the most accomplished U.S. men’s pole vaulters in history, Earl Bell tied Thierry Vigneron of France for the bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, with a clearance of 5.60 meters/18 feet, 4.50 inches. Bell qualified for two additional U.S. Olympic teams, placing sixth in 1976 and fourth in 1988. The gold medalist at the 1975 Pan American Games, Bell also won the silver medal at the 1987 World Indoor Championships and the bronze medal at the 1986 Goodwill Games. Bell won three U.S. Outdoor (1976-84-90), and three U.S. Indoor (1980-84-87) titles during his career. He also won three NCAA Outdoor titles (1975-76-77), and two NCAA Indoor titles (1975-76). Bell set the world outdoor record of 5.67m/18-7.25 on May 29, 1976 at the USTFF Championships in Wichita, Kansas, and he set the American record of 5.80m/19-0.25 in San Jose, California on June 9, 1984. Bell now is renowned as one of the top pole vault coaches in the country, with American record holder Jeff Hartwig, Olympians Kellie Suttle and Chad Harting, and 2001 World Indoor silver medalist Tye Harvey among the athletes training under him.