French Pole Vault ace Pierre Quinon has died

The IAAF is deeply saddened to learn from the French Federation of the sudden death of 1984 Olympic Pole Vault champion, Pierre Quinon.

Pierre Quinon, 49, (born February 20, 1962 in Lyon, France) who died on Wednesday evening (17 August) was among the standout names of the legendary French school of pole vaulting which celebrated a golden era in the 1970s and 80s.

Pierre Quinon also set a short lived World record of 5.82m on 28 August 1983 in Cologne, Germany, an all-time bar which was bettered by one centimetre on 1 September 1983 by compatriot Thierry Vigneron. Vigneron, who in total set five World records, and Philippe Houvion (5.77m World record, 1980) were among the other luminaries of that great era of French vaulting expertise of Quinon’s day. It is a national tradition which passed to Jean Galfione, the 1996 Atlanta Olympic champion, and is continued to the present day by World medallists such as Romain Mesnil and Renaud Lavillenie.

Among the other highlights of an illustrious career, Quinon took the silver medal at the 1984 European Indoor Championships behind Vigneron.

The IAAF and the world athletics family mourns the loss of a great champion and record breaker.

IAAF