Men High Jump Athletics XVII Olympic Games Roma, Italy 1960 - Thursday, 1st September - Gold Medal: Robert Shavlakadze, United States
Final
Height
SO
n et/em
190
195
200
203
206
209
212
214
216
218
1. Robert Shavlakadze
URS
2.16m OR
15.
1 8/1
XO
O
O
O
O
O
O
XXX
2. Valeriy Brumel
URS
2.16m
2.
2 12/5
O
O
O
XO
XXO
XO
XO
XXX
3. John Thomas
USA
2.14m
17.
2 5/1
O
O
O
XO
XXX
4. Viktor Bolshov
URS
2.14m
5.
2 7/1
O
O
O
O
O
XO
XXX
5. Stig Pettersson
SWE
2.09m
1.
3 8/4
O
O
XXO
XXO
XXX
6. Charles Dumas
USA
2.03m
13
1 2/0
O
O
XXX
7. Kjell-Ake Nilsson
SWE
2.03m
11.
1 4/0
O
O
O
O
XXX
8. Jiri Lansky
TCH
2.03m
4.
1 4/0
O
O
O
O
XXX
9. Theo Pull
GER
2.03m
12.
1 4/0
O
O
O
O
XXX
10.Robert Kotei
GHA
2.03m
2 4/1
O
O
XO
XXX
11.Cornei Porumb
ROM
2.03m
2 5/1
O
O
O
XO
XXX
12.Mahamat Idriss
FRA
2.03m
2 6/3
XO
XO
XO
XXX
13.Sandor Noszaly
UNG
2.03m
3 8/3
O
O
XO
XXO
XXX
14.Maurice Fournier
FRA
2.00m
1 2/0
O
O
XXX
15.Piotr Sobota
POL
2.00m
1 3/0
O
O
O
XXX
16.Gordon Miller
GBR
2.00m
3 5/2
O
O
XXO
XXX
17.Joseph Faust
USA
1.95m
1 2/0
O
O
XXX
Before 1960 there had been four clearances of seven feet or better
(including indoor competitions). In Olympic year John Thomas had 20
marks at that level, including five world records, culminating in his
clearance of 2.23 in the US Trials. The USSR had a good squad of
jumpers with 18 year-old Brumel (2.17), Bolshov (2.15) and
Shavlakadze (2.11). Reigning champion Dumas and steady Swede
Petersson were thought to be those likely to get closest to Thomas.
When the bar was raised to 2.09, these were the six jumpers remain-
ing. Thomas, Bolshov and Shavlakadze cleared first time, while
Dumas, suffering with a back problem and an even more painful knee
injury, failed. Pettersson got over on his last attempt but failed at 2.12,
a height which almost defeated Brumel who succeeded on his final
attempt. Thomas passed at 2.12, which the other two Soviets again
cleared first time. At 2.14 Shavlakadze, the third man to jump, cleared
– a lifetime best for the Georgian. Thomas had to clear to stay ahead.
He failed, but got over next time, after Bolshov and Brumel had
cleared. Shavlakadze then made 2.16 first time, and Brumel cleared on
his second attempt. Bolshov failed and Thomas, now far from the con-
fident athlete he had been at lower heights, also failed, thereby winning
bronze.
URS
USA
SWE
TCH
GER
GHA
ROM
FRA
UNG
POL
GBR
JPN
FIN
SUI
ISL
AUT
YUG
AUS
NGR
IND
TUN
TUR
IRQ