Hooker's Cash Bonus in Perth?

[Bubba PV]

http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/hookers ... -ewm1.html

Hooker's cash bonus to fly high
Tim Clarke
August 25, 2009 - 6:36AM
Exclusive: Inspirational world and Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker could have a $100,000 bounty on offer to break Sergey Bubka's 15-year old world record at next year's national championships in front of his home fans in Perth.

Hooker's effort to win a gold medal in Berlin despite a badly injured groin muscle has confounded the athletics' world, and confirmed the curly-haired Australian captain as one of the most bankable track and field stars in the world.

With Hooker now trying to recover in time for the World Athletics Final in Greece next month, the rigours of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in Perth next April will be the furthest thing from his mind.

But what might catch his attention is the plan by WA Athletics to attract a pot of gold for breaking through the 6.14cm barrier set by Bubka in Sestriere, Italy in July 1994.

"What Steve did in Berlin was nothing short of phenomenal, and his mind set now will be to target Bubka's world record," CEO of WA Athletics Wayne Loxley said.

"With the way Perth's new track has been designed, it is perfectly set up for Steve to break the record here, and if he does he will put Perth on the athletics world map.

"And $100,000 is serious money."

Two years ago at Perry Lakes, Hooker and close friend and rival Paul Burgess were offered $30,000 to break the Australian record of 6.05m - set by Dmitri Markov in winning the 2001 world title in Edmonton, Canada.

But neither could clear that height then, with Hooker having to wait two years until this February to scale the height in Boston.

"6.06m was a big goal of mine," Hooker said at the time.

"Now it's just the world record. It will happen. All I need is more attempts."

He will get some of those in Greece, before attempting to salvage some Australian pride by competing in the first "Athletics Ashes" in Newcastle in September.

A team of about 40 Australian athletes will take on an English team in a series of street events including sprints and jumps, pole vault and middle-distance races.

[altius]

With all this talk of money folk may be interested to learn that Steve still allocates a percentage of his earnings to his original coach Mark Stewart. Mark -an exceptional person -not only took Steve from beginner to 5.92m but was prepared to pass him on to Alex parnov when it became clear he could not give Steve the time he needed to fulfil his potential.

[Bubba PV]

I'm on Mark's email list. Quite a tremendous guy with no ego. Bubba

[SlickVT]

With all this talk of money folk may be interested to learn that Steve still allocates a percentage of his earnings to his original coach Mark Stewart. Mark -an exceptional person -not only took Steve from beginner to 5.92m but was prepared to pass him on to Alex parnov when it became clear he could not give Steve the time he needed to fulfil his potential.

Admirable on both fronts. Good to see a coach who didn't let pride get in the way of his athlete's success, as well as an athlete who recognizes such a great coach.