From the S&S archives: Bubka vaults to record

TOKYO — The rain poured on Tokyo's National Stadium all Saturday morning, but the thunder erupted in the evening as pole vaulter Sergei Bubka set yet another world record in front of more than 70,000 roaring fans.

The 28-year-old Ukrainian, who soars higher than everyone but the Space Shuttle astronauts, cleared 20 feet, 1½ inches easily on his third vault of the Toto International Track Meet. The height was his 32nd world record since 1984.

With a world championship (1991) and an Olympic gold medal (Seoul) under his belt, new world marks are Bubka's reason for competing as there is no one to challenge him.

"The world record is my main motivation," said Bubka, who broke his own record for the second time since failing to make any height at the Olympic Games in Barcelona. He jumped 20-1 in Padua, Italy, on Aug. 30.

"I was very happy tonight with this record," Bubka said.

He seemed somewhat surprised with the record because of the pole he used.

"I think it was not a bad jump," he said, "but the pole was not as strong as I usually use for a new world record. It's a little bit softer than usual."

Bubka cleared 18-4½ and 19-0½ before attempting the record height and did not make any further attempts, because he fears losing interest.

"I try to be long in sport," he said, spurning his native language to answer in English. "I began sport when I was 10 years old and I'd like to continue a few years more."

By inching the record up a fraction at a time, he figures to extend his career. It's not because of the money, as many journalists have implied, he said, but because, "I love sport."

It may be possible to clear 20-4 or 20-6 someday, Bubka said, but "if I jump with a very high result, it's no more interesting. No more motivation."