Billy Richard Olson (born July 19, 1958) is a retired American Olympic pole vaulter who held several world records, including the first 19-foot indoor pole vault.[2][3][4] Olson finished 12th at the 1988 Summer Olympics, and was to have been part of the U.S. team for the boycotted 1980 Summer Olympics.

Billy Olson
Olson in 1984
Personal information
Born (1958-07-19) July 19, 1958 (age 66)
Abilene, Texas, U.S.[1]
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight73 kg (161 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventPole vault
ClubMazda Optimist Track Club, Toronto
Achievements and titles
Personal best5.93 m (1986)[2]

Olson vaulted for Abilene High School and Abilene Christian University, from which he graduated.[5][6][7] He was Inducted into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame, Class of 2012.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Billy Olson sports-reference.com
  2. ^ a b Billy Olson. trackfield.brinkster.net
  3. ^ Al Pickett. "Abilene has produced more than its share of stars," Archived October 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Abilene Reporter-News, December 24, 1999.
  4. ^ Frank Litsky. "Billy Olson is inching ahead on way to a 19-foot vault," The New York Times, February 22, 1982, page C6, column 1 (late city final edition).
  5. ^ ACU Centennial: Billy Olson Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Ted Dunnam. "Coaching by Hood vaulted ACU over top," Archived February 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Abilene Reporter-News, June 25, 2000.
  7. ^ All-Time U.S. Rankings — Men’s Pole Vault Archived December 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, ranked #1 in the world for 1982.
  8. ^ "Txtfhalloffame". Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
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