Yashchenko passed away ???

[1.97hjsteve]

Did I read on one of the strings that ex-WR HJ record-holder Vladimir Yashchenko died ?

If so, when ?

[gh]

Re: Yashchenko passed away ???

30 November 1999

[Guest]

Re: Yashchenko passed away ???

He died of liver failure and I'm guessing he was an alcoholic. He was a world class party animal as well as a world class high jumper.

[gh]

Re: Yashchenko passed away ???

Yeah, it was cirrhosis, but I thought I'd leave that unsaid.

[1.97hjsteve]

Re: Yashchenko passed away ???

That makes 2 Soviet WR holders in the HJ to die tragically. I remeber that Yuriy Stepanov of 7'1" and built-up shoe fame died from suicide.

Plus of course Brumel's premature passing.

Igor Paklin and Rudolf Povarnitzin, , are you listening ?

[Guest]

Re: Yashchenko passed away ???

I read somewhere Paklin spent a few years in jail for murdering his business partner... there really is something happening with those HJ WR holders...

[jhc68]

Re: Yashchenko passed away ???

Really? And on another thread there is a reference to Henry Thomas the great Hawthorne HS sprinter serving a life sentence... sheesh.

[twittering debutante]

Re: Yashchenko passed away ???

My condolences to the Yashchenko family.

[paulthefan]

Re: Yashchenko passed away ???

very sad.. immense talent, recall he was a stradler too...can not help but wonder if the reason the russian men are underperforming is also linked to the russian word for water.

[tupeke]

Someone has posted a video of Vladimir Yashchenko on Youtube. I've wanted to see footage of this amazing athlete for years and now I finally can. Oh such are the wonders of the internet these days! The video even has his beautiful 2.35m clearance from the 1978 European Indoors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6lpk_9T5hM

[mrbowie]

This is one of the nuttiest threads of all-time.

Reminds me of a group of drinkers near closing time at a bar.

People say stuff with a straight face and a lot of sincerity. But, like writers that smoke weed, when they read what they wrote, because it makes so little sense.

[marknhj]

What an awesome video, thanks for posting it.

I've often wondered how high Yashchenko would have jumped if he'd been born ten years later and was a flopper. His build, speed and athleticism were made for it.

I witnessed a couple of those competitions at very close range, and the height he got over the bar on occasion was astounding. He was very fast over his the last five strides, something you can't see clearly from this video. His death was tragic, and his HJ career only lasted a couple of years, but of the great ones I was lucky to be around when they came on the scene - Soto, Sjoberg, Mogenburg - he was the biggest talent.

[Daisy]

Just saw it. Did you see the comment referring to his three attempts at 2:10 metres on the way to a WR (and taking 20 attempts). I don't remember him at all, was he inconsistent?

It was a great surprise for me!!But what an unlucky kid!You know he was playing with high jump!Even when he broke the world record in Italy he cleared 2,10 with the third try!

He jumped at that evening 20 times!!!!Any high jumper Knows that this is not normal!Mogenburg needs 8-10 jumps to win and that's it!

[Dietmar239]

What an awesome video, thanks for posting it.

I've often wondered how high Yashchenko would have jumped if he'd been born ten years later and was a flopper. His build, speed and athleticism were made for it.

I witnessed a couple of those competitions at very close range, and the height he got over the bar on occasion was astounding. He was very fast over his the last five strides, something you can't see clearly from this video. His death was tragic, and his HJ career only lasted a couple of years, but of the great ones I was lucky to be around when they came on the scene - Soto, Sjoberg, Mogenburg - he was the biggest talent.

Agreed! I think he would have pushed everyone and the 8-foot barrier would have fallen way before 89'.

[marknhj]

Does anyone have stats on his career? I remember that during his two years at the top he jumped 2.30m, 2.33m, 2.34m and 2.35m (the WR was 2.32m when he came on the scene). But I don't know any other performances, or his early progression...