Bubka Remembers Seoul 1988

(ATR) Sergey Bubka pole vaulted to his lone Olympic gold medal, exactly 30 years ago, at the Seoul 1988 Games.

Bubka, 24 at the time, soared over 5.90 meters (19 ft. 4 ¼ in.) on his third and final attempt, setting a new Olympic record. A wild, emotion-filled celebration ensued.

"It was so emotional because I took leadership with a chance to become a gold medalist, otherwise if I missed, I was off of the podium," Bubka tells Around the Rings in an interview on the eve of the anniversary.

After subsequent failed attempts by his fellow Soviet vaulters, the gold medal belonged to Bubka.

"It was unforgettable and no other competition ever compared to it," he said.

Enormous pressure fell on the young Soviet athlete’s shoulders. Bubka entered the Seoul Games as the overwhelming favorite, having recently broken the world record in France two months prior to the Games.

"It was so emotional and incredible psychological pressure because I dreamed of the Olympic Games," Bubka said. "Everything was so exciting, creating such a tightness in my body. This created some problems [along with] weather conditions and a headwind."

Bubka was denied a chance to compete at what would have been his first Olympic Games in Los Angeles 1984 due to the Soviet-led boycott. As the United States and other Western nations boycotted Moscow 1980 in protest of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the Seoul ‘88 Games reunited the entire Olympic Movement.

"I was still young, but especially now I understand it was so important to bring the world together through sport, promote the peace and start to build a new history," Bubka said.

Bubka was impacted by his first experience residing at the Olympic Village.

"We felt something different than other events, because after three consecutive troubles and boycotts by some countries, we were all together and this was something special," said Bubka, who grew up in Voroshilovgrad, Ukraine, formerly a part of the Soviet Union.

"To see so many stars, champions from different sports living together, this was so exceptionally unique and emotional for me."

In the lead-up to the 1988 Olympics, IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch was committed to preventing another boycott by the Eastern Bloc countries, a task complicated by the lack of diplomatic relations between South Korea and socialist countries.

"Samaranch traveled around the world to bring everyone, every country to the Seoul Games and avoid a boycott," Bubka said. "He was an extraordinary leader and achieved this goal."

The Seoul Olympic Games were also the last for the Soviet Union as the Iron Curtain collapsed and the U.S.S.R. was dissolved in December 1991. The Soviet athletes overwhelmingly topped the medal table with a total of 132, including 55 gold. East Germany followed with 102 medals and 37 gold, while the United States placed third with 94 medals, 36 gold.

"There were no signals that something would happen later – that the Soviet Union would disappear," Bubka remembered. "It was one team, a united team and a great achievement. There was a beautiful atmosphere within the team."

Bubka noted that he immensely enjoyed the days following his gold medal performance, meeting fellow athletes, exploring Seoul, attending the basketball final and walking in the closing ceremony.

Possessing the speed of a sprinter, strength of a gymnast and with unprecedented explosive form off the top of the pole, Bubka went on to claim six world titles and broke the world record a staggering 35 times. However, the pole vaulting star never won another Olympic medal over his illustrious 18-year athletics career.

"I accepted it and I was lucky to compete in four Games. I really learned a lesson regarding the boycott how dangerous and bad it is for the athletes," Bubka said, on missing Los Angeles ’84.

Bubka, an IOC member since 1999 and an executive board member and president of the Ukraine National Olympic Committee since 2005, said he hopes athletes will never be forced to cope with an Olympic boycott.

"I always do my best so that no boycott will happen again for future generations because the Olympic movement is so unique." he said.

Requested by IOC President Thomas Bach to attend on behalf of the IOC, Bubka returned to Seoul for a 30th Anniversary celebration on Sept. 17.

"There was a special ceremony, I went to the stadium, I was on the track, I visited the museum and saw my title from 28th of September," Bubka said. "It was so touching and such beautiful feelings about Seoul."

Written by Brian Pinelli

For general comments or questions,click here.

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.