Erica Bartolina, an Elite Athlete Grantee Biography

ERICA BARTOLINA

HOMETOWN: PHILOMATH, OR
CURRENT RESIDENCE: HAMMOND, LA
SCHOOL: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY ('02)
EVENT: POLE VAULT

Career Highlights: 2008 Olympian; 3rd place 2008 Olympic Trials; 5th place 2007 US Indoor Championships; 4th place 2005 US Indoor Championships

CLICK HERE FOR ERICA'S DETAILED PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AND PERSONAL WEBSITE.

VISIT BARTOLINA ATHLETICS, ERICA'S POLE VAULT FACILITY & CAMP. CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE.

In Erica's words:

"Without the support of my sponsors, I never could have made the 2008 Olympic team. Now, with the help of the USA Track & Field Foundation, I am busy training to win a medal at the 2012 London Olympics."

I grew up in the small rural community of King’s Valley, Oregon. As a young child, I was very active and loved to play outside; however, organized athletics were not a big part of my life.  I lost my right eye in a car accident when I was 4 months old, and my lack of any depth perception made me useless at “ball sports.” In middle school I joined the cross country team, because I thought running was the only athletic thing I could do. During my freshman year, the high school track coach asked me if I was interested in pole vaulting. It was a new event for girls and our team needed the points. He forgot that I only had one eye and later tried to dissuade me from starting, but I made him let me try. I finished 2nd at the Oregon state meet that first year.

I hope my success is motivational and educational to others. I always wanted to be a groundbreaker in one way or another, and was drawn to pole vaulting early on, mainly because other people didn’t believe I could do it.  I attended college at Texas A&M University in large part, because they gave me the opportunity to be their first female pole vaulter. I continued training after college because I felt like I had more to contribute, more to prove. I finished higher in my first USA Championships than I ever did at the NCAA meet. I was never an All-American, but I made the toughest Olympic team in the world. I suppose my motto is, “Don’t ever let anyone else tell you not to pursue your dreams. Our dreams are what keep us alive.”

My husband and I struggled for years without outside sponsorship or support. It was not until the spring of 2008 that several local businesses made it possible for me to stop working full time and concentrate on my training. Without the support of my sponsors, I never could have made the 2008 Olympic team.  Now, with the help of the USA Track and Field Foundation, I am busy training to win a medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

In the future, I plan to continue working with young people in athletics. I currently coach a youth club, and my husband and I are building a training center near New Orleans, Louisiana.  I hope to stay active in track and field for many years to come, and help prepare the next generation of American pole vaulters.

ERICA, HUSBAND MIKE & STEPSON ETHAN

AT THE BEIJING CLOSING CEREMONIES WITH LEIGH SMITH & MIKE HAZLE (L-R)

Thanks,

Erica Bartolina, Pole Vault

CLICK HERE FOR ERICA'S DETAILED PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.

APRIL STEINER, JENN STUCZYNSKI & ERICA BARTOLINA