Earl Bell

Earl Holmes Bell (born August 25, 1955) is a retired American pole vaulter. He competed at the 1976, 1984 and 1988 Olympics and won a bronze medal in 1984, placing fourth in 1988 and sixth in 1976.

Earl Bell

Bell in 1976
Personal information
Born	(1955-08-25) August 25, 1955[1] Ancón, Panama[1]
Residence	Jonesboro, Arkansas[2]
Height	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)[3]
Weight	77 kg (170 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Pole vault
Club	[[Arkansas State Indians] Pacific Coast Club, Long Beach[3]
Coached by	Guy Kochel[2]
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	5.87 m (1988)[1][3][4]
Medal record Representing  United States Olympic Games 1984 Los Angeles Pole vault World Indoor Championships 1987 Indianapolis Pole vault Pan American Games 1975 Mexico City Pole vault

In 1976 he also briefly held the world record. In retirement he coached several America's leading vaulters. In 2002 he was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.[1]

Biography

Roberts (right) returns a borrowed pole to Bell at the 1976 Olympic Trials

Bell was born in Panama to William K. Bell and Yola Zimmerman Bell. His father was a medical doctor and former pole vaulter who had attended the University of Arkansas. The family moved from Panama to Jonesboro, Arkansas in 1960, and in 1973 Bell entered the Arkansas State University. He graduated in 1988 with a BSc degree in accounting.[2] While attending Arkansas University, Bell won the NCAA title in 1975–77. He also won the AAU championships in 1976 and 1984, placing third in 1981. Besides Olympics, Bell won a gold medal at the 1975 Pan American Games and finished fifth in 1991.[3]

Bell came to the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials as the world record holder. At the Trials he lent his pole to David Roberts, who broke his pole. Roberts won the Trials with a new world record,[5] and placed third at the Olympics, while Bell finished second and sixth, respectively.[3]

Coaching career

After retiring from competitions Bell established Bell Athletics outside of Jonesboro, where he coached Jeff Hartwig, Derek Miles, Kellie Suttle, Daniel Ryland, and Jillian Schwartz, among other top pole vaulters.[1][6]

Bell is married and has three children: Drew, Sam, and Henry.[2]

Rankings

Rare among vaulters, Bell managed to stay relatively healthy and productive for a long career, gaining US rankings among the best for 16 consecutive years in the Track and Field News annual rankings.[7]

Year	Event	World ranking	US ranking
1975	Pole vault	3rd	1st
1976	Pole vault	4th	2nd
1977	Pole vault	4th	2nd
1978	Pole vault	–	5th
1979	Pole vault	–	5th
1980	Pole vault	–	6th
1981	Pole vault	6th	1st
1982	Pole vault	–	4th
1983	Pole vault	–	3rd
1984	Pole vault	7th	2nd
1985	Pole vault	–	4th
1986	Pole vault	5th	1st
1987	Pole vault	3rd	1st
1988	Pole vault	5th	2nd
1989	Pole vault	–	5th
1990	Pole vault	–	3rd

References

1. Earl Bell. usatf.org
2. Hendricks, Nancy (2014) Earl Holmes Bell (1955–) in Encyclopedia of Arkansas
3. Earl Bell. sports-reference.com
4. Earl Bell. trackfield.brinkster.net
5. Putnam, Pat (July 5, 1976) FLYING START TOWARD THE OLYMPICS. Sports Illustrated
6. Earl Bell. bellathletics.com
7. World Rankings Index — Men’s Pole Vault. Track and Field News

Records
Preceded by David Roberts	Men's Pole Vault World Record Holder May 28, 1976 – June 22, 1976	Succeeded by David Roberts