Cornelius Warmerdam facts for kids
Warmerdam in 1942
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Dutch |
| Born | June 22, 1915 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 13, 2001 (aged 86) Fresno, California, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft |
| Weight | 170 lb |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | Pole vault |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 4.79 m (1943) |
| Updated on June 1, 2015. | |
Cornelius "Dutch" Warmerdam (born June 22, 1915 – died November 13, 2001) was an amazing American pole vaulter. He held the world record for pole vaulting for a very long time, from 1940 to 1957! He couldn't go to the Olympics because of World War II. Even after he stopped competing professionally in 1944, he kept pole vaulting for fun, even into his sixties. He was so good that he was put into the Hall of Fame in 1974.
Contents
Early Life and Nickname
Cornelius Warmerdam was born in Long Beach, California. His parents, Adrianus and Gertrude Warmerdam, had moved to the U.S. from the Netherlands.
He grew up in a town called Hanford, California. Because his family came from the Netherlands, his friends and later the news reporters started calling him "Dutch." This nickname stuck with him throughout his life.
How He Started Pole Vaulting
Dutch Warmerdam's journey into pole vaulting began in a very unusual way. He practiced in his own backyard! He used a branch from a peach tree as his pole. For a landing spot, he just piled up dirt.
A local track coach noticed his talent. Dutch then started vaulting for Hanford High School. After he graduated in 1932, he continued his pole vaulting career at Fresno State College.
Breaking Records with a Bamboo Pole
Dutch Warmerdam used a bamboo pole for all his vaults. This is interesting because later vaulters used metal poles. He was the first person ever to clear 15 feet (about 4.57 meters) in the pole vault. He did this on April 13, 1940, in California.
His jump of 4.60 meters on June 29, 1940, was the first time a jump over 15 feet was officially recognized as a world record. During his career, Dutch cleared 15 feet an incredible 43 times in competitions. At that time, no other vaulter had even done it once!
His World Records
Dutch Warmerdam broke the pole vault world record seven times over four years. Three of these jumps were officially recognized as world records. His highest outdoor vault was 15 feet, 7 and 3/4 inches (about 4.77 meters). He achieved this in 1942. This record stood for a very long time, until 1957. That's when Bob Gutowski broke it using a newer, metal pole.
Missing the Olympics
In 1942, Dutch won the James E. Sullivan Award. This award goes to the best amateur athlete in the United States. Even though he was one of the best, he never got to compete in the Olympics. The 1940 and 1944 Olympic Games were canceled because of World War II. By 1948, he was coaching professionally, which meant he couldn't compete as an amateur in the Olympics.
However, he continued to compete in events for older athletes. He is still ranked among the world's top athletes in the M60 Decathlon. This is a competition for men over 60 years old.
Coaching Career and Legacy
After his amazing vaulting career, Dutch Warmerdam became a track and field coach. He coached at Fresno State University until he retired in 1980. His team even won a national championship in 1964.
Fresno State honored him by naming their track stadium Warmerdam Field. Dutch Warmerdam is a member of several important halls of fame. These include the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Family Life
Dutch Warmerdam married Juanita Anderson on August 29, 1940. They were married for 61 years. Dutch passed away in Fresno, California, in 2001. Juanita continued to live in Fresno until her death in 2006. They had five children: Mark, Greg, Gloria, David, and Barry. They also had twenty grandchildren.
