Lawrence Johnson (born May 7, 1974) is an American

pole vault Pole vaulting, also known as pole jumping, is a track and field event in which an athlete uses a long and flexible pole, usually made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, as an aid to jump over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the Myc ...

er, born in

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...

. He earned the nickname "LoJo" at the

University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee (officially The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; or UT Knoxville; UTK; or UT) is a public land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1794, two years before Tennessee became the 16th state, ...

where he won four NCAA titles in the pole vault. 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 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from ...

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

, he also won a gold medal at the

2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships The 8th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Pavilhão Atlântico in Lisbon, Portugal from March 9 to March 11, 2001. It was the first time the Championships had been held in Portugal. There were a total number of 511 part ...

and a silver medal at the

1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships The 6th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris, France from March 7 to March 9, 1997. It was the first athletic championships to introduce women's pole vault. There were a total numb ...

(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

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

References

External links

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

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USA Track and Field profile

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Lawrence 1974 births Living people American male pole vaulters Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field Sportspeople from Norfolk, Virginia Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics Tennessee Volunteers men's track and field athletes Track and field athletes from Virginia Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field) Universiade silver medalists for the United States World Athletics Indoor Championships winners