Pole vault is basically athletics and gymnastics, says Sergey Bubka

For the present generation, pole vault legend Sergey Bubka may not be a household name like Olympic champions — Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt or American swimmer Michael Phelps.

But he is definitely as big a name as the two despite winning just one Olympic gold medal — in Seoul 1988.

With six world championship titles and breaking world record for 35 times, the legendary pole vaulter is a super success story.

The Ukrainian, currently in the city as TATA Mumbai Marathon's International event ambassador, will be motivating the professional runners and athletes participating in Sunday's event.

"Running is the base for all sports, it is the core. If we talk about pole vault, it is basically athletics and gymnastics," Bubka said on Thursday.

"Everything in our training preparation involves running; we practice distance running, short run, long and high jump. One needs to be fit and have excellent physical condition to succeed in any sport," he added.

Bubka's introduction to pole vaulting was pure destiny. "First of all my parents were never involved in sports. The facilities were not good too. We would play on streets and school during breaks. We would jump around, play football or basketball. We would play wherever we would find facilities. Then we would get into military camps (USSR) with the fear of being caught. We knew this would be dangerous as they could grab us," the 64-year-old said.

The 64-year-old grew up when Ukraine was a part of USSR. "I never saw pole vault before I started my career. This was my destiny which defined my career. A friend, who was three years older than me, introduced me to his coach when I was 10. The coach said it was good to start early then. My friend convinced the coach that I was good and it was amazing to see how a 13-year-old convinced the coach that I had some power," he said.

Bubka was known for his consistency and his six golds in consecutive championships is a proof of the same. How did he manage to be consistent?

"As I grew up in Soviet Union the organisations would help me with the club, coach, there was some advice psychologist, physios. Everything went step by step. Since 1991, the Soviet disappeared, from that time I had to arrange things on my own. I had to get my own coach for athletics, my second coach for gymnastics, doctor, I had physio. My family stayed around, my wife and kids travelled together. I considered team important for success," Bubka said.

However, it was a difficult for Bubka when Ukraine came on its own. "It was absolutely difficult. Earlier, things were decided by officials of sports organisations. Now, I had to prepare on own. Beginning of trial runs, participate in meets. Had to arrange everything in one day including training and competitions. It was a difficult period."

At the time when Bubka was introduced to international athletics and enthusiastic, he had to miss the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics due to boycott from USSR, especially when two months prior to that that he had vaulted 12 cm higher than the eventual Olympic gold medal winner Pierre Quinon.

"It was decision of the leaders of country. No one asked us. The sports leader informed us that we are not going. I was 20 years old then and in some way positive about the next one.

"I didn't understand how difficult it was to survive for one Olympics for the second one. After so many years, when I retired it became more painful. To me, this was great chance to become an Olympic champion. Four years later, there was psychological pressure but went on to win the 1988 Seoul Olympics."

'Excited to see Koreas under one flag'

Having gone seen and been through sanctions and boycotts, the legendary pole vaulter Sergey Bubka was happy with North and South Korea's decision to march under one flag at the opening ceremony of next month's Winter Olympics. "Well, personally during the executive board of IOC (International Olympic Committee), we discussed the issue a couple of days back. I am very excited. I feel the IOC is doing an incredible job to unify (the board), bring in peace, bring in people and nations together," Bubka said. "What we see today was unbelievable. I will pray and look the two Korean nations to merge together and I know that with this decision they will merge under one flag. This is unbelievable power of sports and Olympics. I am very happy and proud," said the Ukranian, who is regarded as one of the greatest Olympians.

Know Bubka

• Sergey Bubka
• Pole Vaulter
• Career: 1981 to 2001
• Won gold in 1988 Seul Olympics
• Won six successive World Championships from 1983 to 1997
• Won World Indoor Championships 4 times
• Broke world record for men’s pole vault 35 times during his career