Lawrence Johnson (pole vaulter)

American pole vaulter (born 1974)
Lawrence Johnson
Personal information
BornMay 7, 1974 (1974-05-07) (age 50)
Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Medal record
Men's athletics (track and field)
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2000 Sydney Pole vault
World Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 2001 Lisbon Pole vault
Silver medal – second place 1997 Paris Pole vault

Lawrence Johnson (born May 7, 1974) is an American pole vaulter, born in Norfolk, Virginia. He earned the nickname "LoJo" at the University of Tennessee where he won four NCAA titles in the pole vault.[1] LoJo began pole vaulting in 1989 and since has/holds records on all stages and led the charge to return the US to the international medal podium with two Olympic appearances, including a silver medal performance in 2000 Olympic games Sydney.

Lawrence resigned as Assistant Coach/Pole Vault at the University of South Carolina in August 2011 to start an online business.

Lawrence is best known for winning the Olympic silver medal in 2000, he also won a gold medal at the 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships and a silver medal at the 1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships (First American to bring back a medal in the pole vault in a major competition since 1987). He is the current American Indoor Record Holder at 5.96m (19' - 6.5") set March 3, 2001]. His personal best jump is 5.98m (19' - 7.5"), which he achieved in 1996.

LoJo is one of the USA's most decorated pole vaulters. His accomplishments include 2x HS National Champion, 7x SEC Champion, 4x NCAA Champion, 7x US Champion, World Champion, & Olympic SIlver Medallist. He still holds many stadium and meet records, as well as Collegiate Records.

LoJo is also the first black pole vaulter to medal and step on the podium, which he achieved at the 2000 Olympic games. He is the first black pole vaulter to win in a major competition (won silver in Paris in 1997), and the first black pole vaulter to make the Olympic Team in the Pole Vault, which he achieved at the 1996 Olympic Trials.

Achievements

Year Tournament Venue Result Event
1996 Olympic Games Atlanta, United States 8th Pole vault
1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships Paris, France 2nd Pole vault
1997 IAAF Grand Prix Final Fukuoka, Japan 5th Pole vault
2000 Olympic Games Sydney, Australia 2nd Pole vault
2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships Lisboa, Portugal 1st Pole vault

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-12-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  • Team VA website. This website is about how to join the track and field team as well as team member info and results
  • Vault Assault Online website. This website is for training information and support
  • LoJo Vault Assault website. This website is for his vault club, camps, and clinics
  • LoJo Entertainment website
  • University of South Carolina profile of Lawrence Johnson
  • Lawrence Johnson at World Athletics Edit this at Wikidata
  • USA Track and Field profile


  • v
  • t
  • e
1876–1878
New York Athletic Club
  • 1877: George McNichol
  • 1878: Alfred Ing
1879–1888
NAAAA
  • 1879–81: William Van Houten
  • 1882: B.F. Richardson
  • 1883–86: Hugh Baxter
  • 1887: Tom Ray (GBR) & Hugh Baxter
  • 1888Note 1: G.B. Quinn
1888–1979
Amateur Athletic Union
1980–1992
The Athletics Congress
1993–onwards
USA Track & Field
Notes
  • Note 1: In 1888 both the NAAAA and the AAU held championships
  • OT: The 1920, 1928, 1932, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 championships incorporated the Olympic Trials, otherwise held as a discrete event.
  • 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Qualification
1996 United States Olympic trials (track and field)
Men's
track and road
athletes
Men's
field athletes
Women's
track and road
athletes
Women's
field athletes
Coaches
  • v
  • t
  • e
Qualification
  • 2000 United States Olympic trials (track and field)
Men's track
and road athletes
Men's
field athletes
Women's track
and road athletes
Women's
field athletes
Coaches
  • John Chaplin (men's head coach)
  • Dick Booth (men's assistant coach)
  • Dixon Farmer (men's assistant coach)
  • Rob Johnson (men's assistant coach)
  • John Moon (men's assistant coach)
  • Jerry Quiller (men's assistant coach)
  • Jay Silvester (men's assistant coach)
  • Bubba Thornton (men's assistant coach)
  • Karen Dennis (women's head coach)
  • Sandy Fowler (women's assistant coach)
  • Ernest Gregoire (women's assistant coach)
  • Judy Harrison (women's assistant coach)
  • Rita Somerlot (women's assistant coach)
  • LaVerne Sweat (women's assistant coach)
  • Mark Young (women's assistant coach)
Authority control databases: People Edit this at Wikidata
  • World Athletics