Kendricks Proves Hard Work Pays Off, Brings Home Olympic Bronze

12 Student Life September 2016 theCharger Jump, Sam, Jump! Photo courtesy of Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports Kendricks proves hard work pays Former OHS student Sam Kendricks hoists the American fag after of, brings home Olympic bronze winning his frst Olympic medal. By Jared Redding Sam Kendricks was recognized more back NCAA outdoor pole vault cham- sports edtior and more once “Jump Sam Jump” pionships and frst team All-American posters, banners, and signs were put honors his sophomore and junior sea- In 2006, Sam Kendricks was look- all over town prior to the event. The sons. Sam pole vaulted in the profes- ing for any event to simply get him on phrase became so popular, the com- sional ranks following his junior sea- the Oxford Middle School track and mentators on the NBC stream of the son, competing for Nike and the U.S. High's feld team roster. Not only did he make event mentioned it before one of his Army. OXFORD the middle school team, Sam went on jumps. As a professional, Sam is the three to be the Gatorade Athlete of the Year When the time came for Kendricks time defending U.S. indoor national for Mississippi high school boys’ track to jump in the fnals, the people of the champion (2014-2016) and back to olympic and feld. His high school personal best U.S. watched as their one hope for a back U.S. outdoor national champion of 5.18 meters (17 feet) ranked in the pole vaulting medal competed. (2015 and 2016) in pole vault. participant top 10 nationally at the time. Kendricks’ pride and patriotism Sam set the U.S. Olympic trials After a decade of hard work, the for his country was evident during record by jumping 5.91 meters (19.4 first | & | medalist road he traveled took him to the beau- the event qualifer. While he was run- feet) before competing in the Rio 2016 tiful city of Rio De Janeiro where he ning during an attempt, he heard the Olympic Games. took his experience and displayed it on national anthem being played, and “Him [Sam] having his father as a the biggest stage in all of sports: The stopped mid attempt, put his pole coach really helps him be confdent,” Olympic Games. down, and stood at attention, some- Sam’s younger sister and current OHS “People don’t follow you for years, thing he was instructed to do as a sec- junior Charli Kendricks said. Charli is but they do when it comes to the ond lieutenant of the U.S. Army Re- continuing in her brother’s footsteps Olympics because you have a USA on serve. and is a pole vaulter on the track and your chest,” Kendricks said. “I’m a rep- “It is just second nature to me as feld team at OHS. She is the defend- resentative for them, for the country, a soldier that when you hear the na- ing girls class 5A state champion in the and whoever is watching. You bear a tional anthem and you are not wearing pole vault. really heavy burden when you go to a uniform and not wearing a hat, you “One of those things in life that the Olympic Games, but you have to stand in attention and salute the fag,” you decide as a father is how much are rd bear it with a smile because you are a Kendricks said. “If I didn’t stop, then I you willing to do for one of your chil- representative of your country.” would have been the villain.” dren. I just made the decision that it In Kendricks’ frst appearance in Kendricks’ long road to the Olym- was going to be one of those sacrifces 3 the games, his hard work cashed in for pics was accompanied by his coach and I was willing to make,” Scott said. bronze, earning a medal for his coun- father, Scott Kendricks. “People sometimes understand try, with a jump of 5.85 meters (19.2 Scott built a track and feld power- parent-athlete relationships to have feet). This was the frst U.S. medal in house at Oxford High School, winning a lot of friction because the athlete is the pole vault since Timothy Mack and fve state championships during his trying to grow and the parent is trying Toby Stevenson in the Athens 2004 tenure there. Scott later resigned as to exert control, but I think I have the m Olympic Games. head coach of the Chargers in order to ability to say it’s for the greater good,” Olympic Men’s Pole Vault 5.85Finals “He trains harder than just about oversee the pole vaulters at Ole Miss as Sam said. “He [his father] has my best 3 m anybody, and that is one thing that a volunteer assistant. One of the vault- interests at heart so I have to look out usa (kendricks) 5.98 allows him to really be consistent,” ers under his wing was his son, Sam. for him as much as he looks out for 2 m Sam’s father and coach Scott Kend- At Ole Miss, Sam earned second me.” france 6.03 ricks said. team All-American honors his fresh- According to Sam, the father-son 1 In Oxford, Mississippi, the name man season and went on to win back to team was a winning combination. brazil.

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