George Mattos facts for kids

George Mattos (born October 6, 1929 – died October 18, 2012) was a talented American pole vaulter. He represented the United States in two Olympic Games. In the 1952 Olympics, he finished 9th. Four years later, at the 1956 Olympics, he placed 4th. Both times, he competed against his American teammate, Bob Richards, who was a very strong athlete.

Early Life and High School Success

George Mattos was born in Santa Cruz, California. He grew up and went to Pacific Grove High School in Pacific Grove, a town close to Monterey, California. While in high school, George showed great skill in pole vaulting. In 1947, he won the pole vault event at the important CIF California State Meet. The person who came in second place at that event was Robert Culp. Robert Culp later became a famous actor, known for his role in the TV show I-Spy.

College Training and Achievements

After high school, George Mattos attended San Jose State College. There, he was coached by a legendary coach named Bud Winter, who is now in the Hall of Fame. George continued to excel in pole vaulting during his college years. He tied for second place at the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship in both 1950 and 1951, showing his consistent talent.

Competing for the Olympics

George Mattos was a strong contender for the Olympic team.

The 1952 Olympic Trials

In 1952, George competed for the San Francisco Olympic Club at the Olympic Trials. He finished third, right behind Bob Richards and Don Laz. George and Don Laz both cleared the same height (4.40 meters), but Don Laz won second place because he had fewer misses. At the actual 1952 Olympics, Bob Richards and Don Laz finished in the top spots. George Mattos jumped 4.20 meters and finished 9th in the competition.

The 1956 Olympic Journey

By 1953, George Mattos was competing for the U.S. Army. He tied with Don Laz to win the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Later, in 1956, George competed for the U.S. Air Force at the Olympic Trials. This was a very tough competition! Seven different pole vaulters all cleared the trial record height of 4.48 meters.

At the next height, which would set a new record, only George Mattos and Bob Richards successfully cleared the bar. Other strong athletes like Bob Gutowski and Ron Morris accidentally knocked the bar off with their poles, which was a rule violation at the time. Even though Bob Gutowski finished 4th, he still made it to the Olympic team because another athlete, Jim Graham, was injured. At the 1956 Olympics, Bob Gutowski finished second, right behind Bob Richards. George Mattos jumped 4.35 meters. Only Georgios Roubanis, a Greek student from UCLA, prevented the American team from winning all three medals in the event.

A Decade of Top Performance

George Mattos was a very consistent athlete. He finished among the top 6 pole vaulters at the American championships for ten years in a row, from 1950 to 1959. This shows how dedicated and skilled he was in his sport for a long time.