That'll show you for being both pro-active and efficient.

The origin of the pole vault (via Wikipedia):

Poles were used as a practical means of passing over natural obstacles in places such as the marshy provinces of Friesland in The Netherlands, along the North Sea, and the great level of the Fens of Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. The artificial draining of these marshes created a network of open drains or canals intersecting each other. In order to cross these without getting wet, while avoiding tedious roundabout journeys over bridges, a stack of jumping poles was kept at every house and used for vaulting over the canals. Pole vaulting has been used by Venetian punters for moving to the shore from their boat. It has continued to be a folklore activity with annual competitions. Fierljeppen or broad-jumping with the pole, though the original form of the sport, has never found its way into global competition, the high jump being the only form recognized.

Egad!

The mere act of choosing a pole can have a significant effect on a vaulter's jump, as a pole that is too elastic will cause the vaulter to penetrate too far into the pit, sometimes flying underneath the bar before achieving maximum height, and a pole that is too stiff can cause the vaulter to be rejected backwards, in extreme cases landing back on the runway or in the box.

I am morbidly fascinated by the image of someone being flung backwards onto the runway. I've never seen that happen.

Still...who was the first dude to figure that out, that it's possible to even do?

who was the first dude to figure that out, that it's possible to even do?

Well, it's an inventive way of using a lever. I can kinda see it. Weird what sticks as a sport though, isn't it?

I got about four hours of sleep last night. I was ready to go to sleep last night around 9:00, but then I got a call from work saying that a server had crashed. I fixed it, but then I was too wired to go to sleep.

I'm at work now.

That is sucky Tom. I also got 4 hours, but at least I can pretend I might still get more.

Ugh, you guys! I recommend more than 4 hours of sleep.

What I want to know, though, is who first thought this up?

I feel the same way about the butterfly stroke in swimming.

I got 5 hours plus a wee bit of snoozing. Still not near enough.

I spent 2:20-4:30 in bed with a 2 year old who wouldn't fall asleep. He would be almost asleep (and me too), then would shift and press his sweaty face into mine. Every 10-15 minutes, for two hours.

The butterfly still completely boggles me. I can't imagine how it works; I can't imagine doing it.

Back in the 70s there was a show called Superstars where athletes from different sports competed against each other

Oh man, hadn't thought of that show in FOREVER.

And I'm definitely