Charley Dumas had to pay to get into 1956 OT's?

[lovetorun]

I heard an anecdote a while back that Charley Dumas had to pay ($3.00) to get into the 1956 OT meet at the L..A. Coliseum where he became the first to clear 7-0 with his WR 7 foot one-half inch clearance.

Anyone know the truth/details on this?

[jhc68]

Seems like I heard a story about Dumas forgetting his competitor's pass or some such.

I also read somewhere that at the Rome games he fell asleep in the stadium tunnel during the competition and his fellow jumpers (that would have been Thomas and Faust) had to find him and wake him up to jump. No idea about the veracity of either tale.

[Per Andersen]

Seems like I heard a story about Dumas forgetting his competitor's pass or some such.

Sure, I think it was coach Herschel Smith who had Dumas's pass but Smith got delayed and Charlie had to pay to get into the Coliseum.

Anyway, always wondered if a healthy Dumas could have made it into the medals in Rome. He had an injured knee. Pretty amazing when he came out of nowhere 4 years later and jumped 7- 1/4.

[mrbowie]

I bet Kellie White could have helped Charlie out with the sleeping problem.

[dukehjsteve]

Since this is pick on Dumas day, I'll repeat the amusing quote that T&FN had in the 1956 Olympic issue.

Before Dumas ultimately won, with the highest leap, it looked like he might be tied with Porter at a lower height. Asked later what he was thinking about this, his reply was " I figured they would flip a coin and I would surely lose." T&FN prefaced this quote by saying " Dumas, whose physical feats far outweigh his mental, said..."

[jhc68]

Couldn't get by with that sort of intro in this modern world, eh?

[Per Andersen]

Charley managed something that has only been accomplished by 4 other Hjers in history.
What is that? Brumel did not do it but Soto did.

[jhc68]

Dunno Per! Got me stumped. As you pointed out, it was remarkable that Dumas set a WR and then, eight years later, jumped within 1/4" of that PR.

[gh]

If the Dumas WR was off dirt into sawdust and the second from synthetic to synthetic (don't know that it was) then improved technology would explain part of it.

[lovetorun]

O.K. Per....you've got my interest...what's the answer to your question? (I doubt anyone will guess it right).

[Daisy]

(I doubt anyone will guess it right).

How about he won an elite event with his opening jump? I have no idea if it has ever been done but it would be cool.

[gh]

I've got a better one: Dave Davis had to sneak into the '60 OT! Hopefully I'll find time to tell that tale in the next few days.

[Per Andersen]

Only 5 HJers, including Dumas, have set a WR and won Olympic gold in the same year.

[lovetorun]

Who are the other 3 besides Soto?

[mrbowie]

Dumas went to USC. Did you expect him to be a genius?