Healthy Jenn Suhr Clears 5.00m in Return to Pole Vault

Healthy Jenn Suhr Clears 5.00m in Return to Pole Vault

After battling a severe illness in Rio de Janeiro, Jenn Suhr made her return to the pole vault on Saturday by clearing 5.00m, just 0.03m lower than her all-

Oct 3, 2016 by Taylor Dutch
Healthy Jenn Suhr Clears 5.00m in Return to Pole Vault
After battling a severe illness in Rio de Janeiro, Jenn Suhr made her return to the pole vault on Saturday by clearing 5.00m, just 0.03m lower than her all-time best mark.

At a gym filled with 1,500 people in Suhr's hometown of Fredonia, New York, she cleared 5.00m. Her clearance on Saturday is above the gold medal-winning height of 4.85m set by Ekaterini Stefanidi. Unfortunately, Suhr was sick during the Olympic final over a month ago and was unable to perform to the best of her ability.

According to local reports, Suhr's husband and coach Rick says she contracted a respiratory infection which began on August 11, one week before the Olympic pole vault final. By the day of the final, her health had declined to the point where she was coughing up blood. Despite the unexpected illness, Suhr still fought to finish seventh in Rio.

"I can't tell you the feeling of how exciting it is to be back and able to perform with this support. It's just special," Suhr told WGRZ.com. "All of a sudden, when things don't go well, you realize who your true friends are. And it's this area, it's Western New York, it's the people out there, I really learned where the love comes from."