Well, I learned one thing this Olympics. I would never have made it as a pole vaulter.

[brewens]

[viva la]

1. did you see the pole vaulter whose, uh, package--

knocked the bar down?
It was funny, or maybe painful! He's got bragging rights though!

[madinmaryland]

8. That's what happens when you lead with your penis!

[Silent Type]

2. The way the poles bend nowadays freaks me out.

[WheelWalker]

3. My younger brother began pole vaulting with a metal pole

as a High School freshman and transitioned to fiberglass by the middle of his sophomore year. He still holds the school record set in 1969. Pole vaulters have some loose wiring upstairs in my opinion.

[Silent Type]

4. Yeah, I tried those metal poles in the 60s. Decided that wouldn't be my sport.

[GopherGal]

6. Gymnastics on a Stick

Kathy Johnson Clarke, 1984 olympic silver medalist in gymnastics and retired gymnastics television commentator, has a son who does pole vault. She calls it "gymnastics on a stick"

I imagine there is considerable commonality in the need for strength, flexibility, and a fearless suppression of the survival instinct wherein the brain says to the body "what the heck am I doing upside down? Stop that!"

[WheelWalker]

7. So true. All of that, plus speed

One needs a certain sprint capacity to carry you forward, up and over. The physics involved is quite astonishing, actually.

[Glamrock]

5. Yep. I too am blessed.

Hung like a stud field mouse!