Pentti Nikula

Pentti Nikula Kustaa ( born February 3, 1939 in Somero ) is a former Finnish athlete. At a height of 1.79 m his competition weight was 70 kg.

Pentti Nikula is the first five- meter jumper in the history of the pole vault. But as he jumped his record in the hall, in general the American Brian Sternberg is considered the first five meters Springer, as he was the first jumper, who crossed the height outdoors.

Career

The introduction of the fiberglass rod led in 1961 to a series of world records in the pole vault. On June 22, 1962 in Kauhava Nikula improved the world record in the pole vault by the American Dave Tork by one centimeter to 4.94 meters.

At the European Championships 1962 in Belgrade was Pentti Nikula European champion with 4.80 meters in front of Rudolf Tomasek from Czechoslovakia and his Finnish teammate Kauko Nyström, each 4.60 meters. In 4th place followed by Risto Ankio another Finn with 4.55 meters.

On February 2, 1963 in Pajulahti Penti Nikula skipped the first man to the five meter mark, after which it increased to 5.05 meters, which he overcame in the third attempt. Nikula increased the height to 5.10 meters and mastered the height in the very first attempt. This was the Hallenweltbestleistung 16 inches above the outdoor record. This open-air world record was surpassed by Brian Sternberg with exactly 5.00 meters in April 1963. Nikula jumped his outdoor Besthöhe of 5.00 meters a month after Sternberg's jump in Pori and held so that at least the European record, while Sternberg with 5.08 meters and John Pennel 5.13 meters and 5.20 meters further increased the outdoor world record. Nikulas Hallenweltbestleistung was only surpassed in 1966 by Pennel.

1964 at the Olympic Games in Tokyo occupied Nikula 4.90 meters only 7th place

Nikula 1962 and 1964 Finnish national champion.