Brian Sternberg (June 21, 1943 – May 23, 2013)[2] was a world record holder in the men's pole vault who was paralyzed from the neck down after a trampoline accident in 1963.
Sternberg set one of his world records on May 25, 1963, in Modesto, California jumping 16 feet 7 inches (5.05 m) using new technology for the sport, a fiberglass pole.[3][4] His final record of 5.08 meters (16 ft 8 in) was set on June 7, 1963.[5]
After graduation from Seattle's Shoreline High School in 1961, Sternberg enrolled at the University of Washington and won the 1963 NCAA pole vault title and also shattered the world record in the event twice.[5]
Five weeks after his Modesto jump, Sternberg was training in Hec Edmundson Pavilion in preparation for a trip to Russia. While performing a double somersault with a half twist, he landed awkwardly on his neck in the middle of the trampoline where a spotter could not help. Sternberg had performed the gymnastic move, called a fliffus, hundreds of times. The injury left him a quadriplegic, and his doctors were concerned for his survival days after his accident.
In 1996, Sternberg underwent surgery, performed by Dr. Harry Goldsmith in Germany, to improve the quality of his life. The operation on his spinal cord allowed Sternberg to breathe deeper and easier, to speak more clearly and with greater volume. Sternberg was also able to remain upright for longer periods which improved his feeling of well-being.
Sternberg's unusually long life as a quadriplegic was credited, in part, to his athletic training and to a positive attitude.
"Brian was given a very poor prognosis," said his mother, Helen, in 2003. "They said with his condition, he probably would have five years to live. But he's a fighter."[3]
In 2012, his heart and lungs began to fail. He died on May 23, 2013, aged 69.[2]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brian Sternberg.
^ ab(PDF). Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. p. 555. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
brian, sternberg, june, 1943, 2013, world, record, holder, pole, vault, paralyzed, from, neck, down, after, trampoline, accident, 1963, sternberg, 1964personal, informationbornjune, 1943, diedmay, 2013, aged, sportsportathleticsevent, pole, vaultachievements, . Brian Sternberg June 21 1943 May 23 2013 2 was a world record holder in the men s pole vault who was paralyzed from the neck down after a trampoline accident in 1963 Brian SternbergSternberg in 1964Personal informationBornJune 21 1943 1 DiedMay 23 2013 aged 69 SportSportAthleticsEvent s Pole vaultAchievements and titlesPersonal best s 5 08 m 1963 1 Sternberg set one of his world records on May 25 1963 in Modesto California jumping 16 feet 7 inches 5 05 m using new technology for the sport a fiberglass pole 3 4 His final record of 5 08 meters 16 ft 8 in was set on June 7 1963 5 After graduation from Seattle s Shoreline High School in 1961 Sternberg enrolled at the University of Washington and won the 1963 NCAA pole vault title and also shattered the world record in the event twice 5 Five weeks after his Modesto jump Sternberg was training in Hec Edmundson Pavilion in preparation for a trip to Russia While performing a double somersault with a half twist he landed awkwardly on his neck in the middle of the trampoline where a spotter could not help Sternberg had performed the gymnastic move called a fliffus hundreds of times The injury left him a quadriplegic and his doctors were concerned for his survival days after his accident In 1996 Sternberg underwent surgery performed by Dr Harry Goldsmith in Germany to improve the quality of his life The operation on his spinal cord allowed Sternberg to breathe deeper and easier to speak more clearly and with greater volume Sternberg was also able to remain upright for longer periods which improved his feeling of well being Sternberg s unusually long life as a quadriplegic was credited in part to his athletic training and to a positive attitude Brian was given a very poor prognosis said his mother Helen in 2003 They said with his condition he probably would have five years to live But he s a fighter 3 In 2012 his heart and lungs began to fail He died on May 23 2013 aged 69 2 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brian Sternberg a b Brian Sternberg trackfield brinkster net a b Rudman Steve May 31 2013 Huskies vault legend Brian Sternberg 1943 13 SportspressNW com Retrieved June 2 2013 a b Raley Dan May 22 2003 Cruel Worlds Forty years ago promising UW track standouts fell from grace Seattle Post Intelligencer Video on YouTube 1 44 a b 12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics IAAF Statistics Handbook Berlin 2009 PDF Monte Carlo IAAF Media amp Public Relations Department 2009 p 555 Archived from the original PDF on June 29 2011 Retrieved August 5 2009 RecordsPreceded by Pentti Nikula Men s Pole Vault World Record HolderApril 27 1963 August 5 1963 Succeeded by John Pennel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brian Sternberg amp oldid 1083060998, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
