10 Facts About John Pennel

John Thomas Pennel was an American pole vaulter, and four-time world record holder.

In 1959 John Pennel went to Northeast Louisiana State College on a track scholarship and continued to improve, clearing 4.32 m in 1959, and then his big breakthrough came at a meet at Chattanooga on March 19,1960.

John Pennel did it again the following month with a 4.98 m jump, but neither mark was ratified as a world record.

Just four days later John Pennel surpassed the record with a 5.05 m leap at Monroe, Louisiana, but, again, his mark was not ratified.

The Americans won the match in Moscow by a mere five points, which Athletics Weekly reported as a "disaster", and John Pennel came second in the vault behind Uelses with both of them well below their best.

John Pennel nearly stumped the panel, but Bennett Cerf guessed his line at the last moment.

In 1967, John Pennel was featured as Bachelor Number Three on the popular television show, The Dating Game, episode 67 008, during the second set.

John Pennel was chosen as the favorite by the Bachelorette, who was a gymnast.

John Pennel was favored to win an Olympic gold in Mexico City in 1968, but he finished fifth.

John Pennel cleared 5.40 m on his second attempt, and this would be enough for a medal, but his pole passed under the bar, which was illegal at the time; the rule was abolished next year.