Jennifer Suhr: Track & Field

Suhr is an Olympic gold and silver medalist in the pole vault.

Suhr keeps raising the bar to new American pole vault record

Jenn Suhr disappointed with 4th place finish in pole vault at Daegu 2011 World Championships

Growing up, Suhr was an all-around athlete. She played high school basketball, softball, soccer and track and field. In 2000 she won the pentathlon at the New York State Championships.

She went on to Roberts Wesleyan College. While there, she competed in both basketball and track and field. On the court, she averaged 24.3 points per game, a career total of 1,819 points, and helped bring the team to the NCCAA national championship game. On the track, she set school records in four events (100 mh, 400 mh, javelin, and high jump).

In 2004, after meeting pole vault coach Rick Suhr, she took up the event. After 10 months of training, she entered into the 2005 USA Indoor Championships. Unknown and unranked, she surprised everyone by winning the event. In 2006, Coach Suhr re-mortgaged his home in order to finally support Suhrs career. It paid off. Later that year, Suhr won the USA Outdoor Championships and placed third at the World Athletics Finals.

In 2007, Suhr broke the American outdoor record. Later that season, Suhr cleared 4.88m at the Reebok Grand Prix. This feat was only accomplished by one other woman in history. In 2008, she won the USA Indoor Championships. Her win at USA's solidified her entry in the IAAF World Championships. She competed and placed 2nd. At the Outdoor Championships, Suhr broke her own American Record. She participated in the Beijing Olympic Games in August, 2008. She took home the silver medal.

In 2009, she broke yet another American Record (indoor). In 2010, she married her coach Rick Suhr. She won her tenth national title at the 2011 Indoor Championships. That year she was ranked #1 in the World. She started her 2012 season off strong. At the Boston Indoor Grand Prix she set another American Record.

At the 2012 Olympic Trials, Suhr placed first, earning a spot on her second Olympic team. During London competition, Suhr and Yarisley Silva (Cuba) hit 4.75m. Suhr won the gold medal on a countback.