Germany’s young maestro of the vault
By Nick Davies
It is almost 30 years since a German won Olympic pole vault gold. Back in 1972 at the Munich Games, Wolfgang Nordwig, of the former GDR, beat the American favourite Bob Seagren. In Sydney, Germany’s Danny Ecker, Michael Stolle and Tim Lobinger could achieve a clean sweep of the Olympic medals. Two weeks ago, Stolle achieved 5.95 to win the Golden League in Monaco. Just 7 days ago Ecker cleared 5.90 to win in Brussels, just two weeks after beating the world’s best at the Weltklasse in Zurich. Then there is Lobinger – the eldest of the three at 27 – and a highly experienced competitor who holds the German record of 6.00. His best this season is 5.85.
Their chances are enhanced by the fact that no single person is dominating the event anymore. The old Czar, Sergey Bubka, may still be promoting his Olympic dream but his ponderous performances this season (he cleared 5.55 to finish ninth on his home track in Monaco …) make a mockery of his glory days, when he pushed the world record up to 6.14. Those considered Bubka’s likely successors: Maksim Tarasov and Jeff Hartwig, have also struggled. For Tarasov, the problem is that his formerly consistent technique has completely deserted him. World number one in 1998 and 1999 (when he cleared 6.05), he is now being beaten regularly and has a best of only 5.82 dating back to July 8. In the case of Hartwig, he was the most spectacular casualty of the "sudden death" US Olympic Trials. Despite leading the world lists with the 6.03 he cleared on June 14, Hartwig, could not finish in the top 3 in Sacramento and will now watch the Games as a frustrated spectator.
Even Jean Galfione, the Olympic and World Indoor champion who often peaks when it matters, may struggle to overcome the effects of a recent collapsed lung. He has cleared 5.80 this season.
But who of the German Trio has the best credentials? Many are favouring the 23 year-old Ecker – but a lot of that is due to sentiment. Danny’s mum Heide was a world record breaker and won Olympic gold (long jump) and silver (Pentathlon) in 1972 to become a household name both in West Germany and the GDR.
"Of course, everyone asks me about Heide Rosendahl," laughs Ecker, "But of course to me she is always mother first and athlete second. She was also competing 30 years ago so it is silly to compare the eras. The main reason I have been competing so well recently is that I am so relaxed. All I have ever wanted was to make the Olympic team and at one time I thought I wouldn’t make it. But my results improved and I was delighted to achieve my goal. Now, I am just enjoying every competition and believe that I have a great chance in Sydney. It will be VERY open."
Ecker certainly looks nothing like most of his muscle-bound rivals in a discipline that demands the strength of a javelin thrower, the speed of a sprinter and the agility of a gymnast. With his lean frame and dark shoulder length hair, he resembles a concert violinist. One who hopes to become a maestro on the Olympic stage.
