Allison Stokke facts for kids
Stokke competing in 2008
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Allison Stokke |
| Full name | Allison Rebecca Stokke Fowler |
| Born | March 22, 1989 Newport Beach, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Pole Vaulter Fitness model |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches |
| Weight | 128 lbs |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Other interests | Golf |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Event(s) | Pole vault |
| College team | California Golden Bears |
| Updated on November 15, 2016. | |
Allison Rebecca Stokke Fowler, born in 1989, is an American athlete who was great at pole vaulting. She also works as a fitness model. She set many new American records for high school pole vaulting. When she was 17, her photos became super popular online, making her an internet sensation.
Allison kept pole vaulting while studying at the University of California, Berkeley. She competed for their college team, the California Golden Bears. She even earned special honors for being a top athlete and a good student. She tried to join the US Olympic team in 2012 but didn't make it. She continued to compete in pole vaulting until 2017. After college, she became a professional pole vaulter and a sports model for big brands like Nike and Athleta.
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Early Life and High School Records
Allison Stokke was born in Newport Beach, California. Her family loved sports. Her older brother, David, was a talented gymnast. Allison tried gymnastics too, but then she found pole vaulting in high school. She quickly became one of the best young vaulters in the country.
In 2004, when she was 15 or 16, she won a national title. She set a championship record by vaulting 3.81 meters (about 12 feet, 6 inches). She also broke the American record for high school freshmen. She vaulted 3.86 meters (about 12 feet, 8 inches) in 2004. The next year, in 2005, she set a new record for high school sophomores. She cleared 4.11 meters (about 13 feet, 6 inches). These were the best vaults ever by an American her age. Even after breaking her leg in high school, she won two state championships. In her last year of high school, she was ranked second nationally. Her best vault was 4.14 meters (about 13 feet, 7 inches).
How Allison Became an Internet Sensation
In 2007, a journalist took pictures of Allison at a competition. These photos were put online. Soon after, a sports blog shared one of her pictures. The photo quickly became very popular. It was shared on many other websites. People even made a special website just for Allison. Fan groups online grew to have thousands of followers.
Within weeks, her photos were so famous that major newspapers wrote about it. The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times all talked about her internet fame. News outlets around the world, like the BBC and Der Spiegel, also reported on it.
Allison first tried to handle all the attention herself. But she received so many emails and requests for photo shoots. She decided to get help from a media expert. The sudden fame made her feel a bit nervous. She even said she started locking doors more carefully.
College and Professional Career
Even with all the internet attention, Allison kept going to school. She earned a special scholarship for athletes. She studied sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. In her first year competing for the California Golden Bears college team, she broke a school record. She vaulted 4.11 meters (about 13 feet, 6 inches) both indoors and outdoors.
In her second year, she did even better. She vaulted 4.21 meters (about 13 feet, 10 inches) in Sacramento. She also competed in her first NCAA Women's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. In her third year, she focused a lot on her studies. She earned honors for being a great student-athlete. In her final year of college vaulting, she didn't improve her best height. However, in 2011, she placed eighth at the NCAA Indoor Championships. This earned her the special "All-American" status.
After college, Allison continued to pole vault professionally. In 2012, she reached her best height ever: 4.36 meters (about 14 feet, 4 inches). She hoped to compete in the 2012 London Olympics. But at the US Olympic Trials, she couldn't clear the opening height. Her performance dropped a bit in the following years. But in 2015, she improved again, vaulting 4.15 meters (about 13 feet, 7 inches).
Allison also became a sportswear model. She appeared in ads for big brands like Nike, Inc. and Athleta in 2015. She also worked with Uniqlo in 2016. She teamed up with GoPro too. She made videos showing her vaulting with a camera on her pole. These videos helped people see what pole vaulting is like. By 2016, her videos had over six million views on YouTube. She kept competing in national events. In 2017, she vaulted 4.27 meters (about 14 feet), finishing third at a competition.
Personal Life
In 2017, Allison Stokke started dating Rickie Fowler. He is a professional golfer. They got engaged in June 2018 and were married in October 2019. They welcomed their daughter in November 2021.
Images for kids
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Stokke competing in 2008
See also
In Spanish: Allison Rebecca Stokke para niños
