We have assembled one of the best ever line-ups of Presenters and Speakers for the 2012 Summit. We have always offered unsurpassed presentations and topics, but this year the depth and quality of our presenters will provide an experience you do not want to miss!!
Keynote Speaker - Jim Knaub
The National Pole Vault Summit Organizers are proud to announce that legendary athlete, Jim Knaub, will be the keynote speaker during the opening assembly of the 2012 National Pole Vault Summit.
“In pole vaulting you only get three attempts… in life, you only get one.”
Jim Knaub
Jim Knaub was a top American Pole Vaulter and a 1980 Olympic hopeful who participated in the 1976 Olympic Trials. In 1978, while driving, Knaub was rear ended by a drunk driver and was left paralyzed from the waist down. Since that time, he has never looked back.
A true pioneer for the disabled community, Knaub became a world class wheelchair athlete, wheelchair designer and actor, but most importantly a true inspiration to all. He has captured over 50 wheelchair marathon titles, including 5 Boston Marathon wins. Along the way he has broken numerous world records and inspired millions of people throughout the world to believe that anything is possible.
Growing up Southern California, Knaub captured the 1974 California State Championship (Olympic Silver Medalist Mike Tully was second) in the Pole Vault and then went on to El Camino College where he broke the community college national record. He later transferred to Cal State Long Beach where he was one of the first of many 49’er Pole Vaulters to clear the 5.35M mark.
Knaub has also appeared on the big screen as well as on television. He was the first individual with a disability to portray an individual with disability on television (Happy Days, 1979). His credits include; Happy Days, MASH, The Love Boat, Alice, The A-Team, The Man Who Loved Women, The Fall Guy and Airwolf.
