Pat Matzdorf
Encyclopedia
Patrick Clifford Matzdorf (born December 26, 1949 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
) is a former high jump
er from the United States
, who set the world record
in the event with a leap of 2.29 metres at a World All-Star Meet in Berkeley, California
. Matzdorf, a Junior at the University of Wisconsin, entered the July 3, 1971 track meet against the Soviet Union with a personal best of 7'-3" (2.21) set earlier in the year, indoors, in March. He broke the world record on his third attempt at that height.
Matzdorf was honored as the World's Outstanding Athlete for 1971. At the University of Wisconsin he was a two-time NCAA high jump champion (1970 and 1971) and he set the NCAA indoor record (7-2) in 1971. He was also a two-time Big Ten indoor champion (1970 and 1971).
Matzdorf utilized the bent-leg straddle jumping
style, a modification of the
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
-Airport:Sheboygan is served by the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which is located several miles from the city.-Roads:Interstate 43 is the primary north-south transportation route into Sheboygan, and forms the west boundary of the city. U.S...
) is a former high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
er from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who set the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
in the event with a leap of 2.29 metres at a World All-Star Meet in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. Matzdorf, a Junior at the University of Wisconsin, entered the July 3, 1971 track meet against the Soviet Union with a personal best of 7'-3" (2.21) set earlier in the year, indoors, in March. He broke the world record on his third attempt at that height.
Matzdorf was honored as the World's Outstanding Athlete for 1971. At the University of Wisconsin he was a two-time NCAA high jump champion (1970 and 1971) and he set the NCAA indoor record (7-2) in 1971. He was also a two-time Big Ten indoor champion (1970 and 1971).
Matzdorf utilized the bent-leg straddle jumping
Straddle technique
The straddle technique was the dominant style in the High Jump before the development of the Fosbury Flop. One version is called the western roll....
style, a modification of the