Jennifer Stuczynski Suhr

By the age of 26, Fredonia's Jennifer Stuczynski Suhr had already accomplished far more than most people will even dream of in a lifetime.

Just to pick a subject, how many of us can say we've won an Olympic silver medal?

Jenn Suhr made her hometown beam with pride and drew national attention after she picked up that coveted honor by finishing second in the world in the women's pole vault event at the Beijing Summer Olympic Games in 2008.

Not bad for someone who was a little reluctant to take up the sport.

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She grew up in Fredonia and enjoyed playing sports like volleyball, basketball and soccer, golf and softball before making the move to track and field during her senior year, where she claimed a state title in pentathlon.

After graduation in 2000, she moved on to Roberts Wesleyan College near Chili, New York and continued to excel at basketball as she led her team to two appearances in the NCCAA championship game. She was named the NCCAA Women's Basketball Player of the Year in 2004, averaging 24.3 points per game and and ended her career as the all-time leading scorer at Roberts Wesleyan with 1,819 points.

She also found time to participate in track, winning NCCAA titles in javelin, the 100-meter hurdles and, of course, the pole vault. She holds school records in that event, the 100-meter hurdles, the javelin, high jump, 400-meter hurdles, the 4 x 100 relay and the 4x400 relay.

In the spring of 2004, while a senior at Roberts Wesleyan, she joined forces with pole vault coach Rick Suhr, who had already mentored two national high school champions, and the march to Olympic glory began.

Under Suhr's guidance, Jenn, in just six weeks, jumped 11 feet, 4 inches at the NAIA Championships and finished in sixth place.

There was much more to come.

Thanks to Suhr's superb coaching skills and her hard work, dedication and drive for nothing less than perfection, she rose to the top of the sport, becoming the U.S. National Indoor Champion in 2005 and 2008 and the U.S. National Outdoor Champion in 2006, 2007, and 2008 and earned the ranking of second in the world, with only world-record holder Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva in front of her.

The stage was set to earn a trip to the 2008 Summer Games and Stuczynski Suhr proved she was ready for the big stage as she set a new U.S. Outdoor record of 16-1¾ during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon.

Fredonia and the rest of Chautauqua County were in celebration mode and Stuczynski Suhr's name and picture were literally everywhere as she continued her preparation for her shot at an Olympic medal.

On August 18 in Beijing, with two other Russian competitors hot on her heels, Stuczynski Suhr made the jump of her life for a medal, coming through with a 15-9 effort to earn the silver medal with her rival Isinbayeva claiming the gold and the Olympic dream became a reality.

Stuczynski Suhr set a new American indoor record with a jump of 15-9¾ on February 7, 2009 in Boston.

Running into the Headwind:
The Price of Olympic Gold
The Untold True Story

Rick Suhr has written a book about the journey Jenn and he made to an Olympic gold medal.

Copies are available for purchase on Amazon.

more about Jennifer Stuczynski Suhr

Audios

Memorabilia

Photographs

select an image to enlarge

Jenn Suhr in Fredonia - September 22, 2012

Fredonia welcome banner.

Jenn with Dan Palmer.

Jenn with Randy Anderson and Dan Palmer.

Jenn and Rick Suhr.

Jenn and Sonya Anderson.

Jenn Suhr.

Rick and Jenn Suhr.

Jenn Suhr.

Randy Anderson.

Local pride.

Stan Marshaus and Randy Anderson.

Stan Marshaus .

Stan Marshaus.

Trent and Jenn.

Trent and Randy.

Jenn Suhr in Fredonia - October 1, 2016

Banner.

Jenn Suhr banner.

Randy Anderson with Jenn.

Randy Anderson, Rick Suhr and Stan Marshaus.

Cheerleaders.

Jenn in concentration.

Jenn works on pole position.

Jenn's practice jump.

Jenn in vault.

5.02 meter jump.

Publications

transcribed publications

Harvey, Craig. "Fredonia's Olympian Stuczynski's Heart, Faith, Determination Land Her in Beijing." Observer (Dunkirk), August 4, 2008.
West, Shirley. "Hometown Hero Stuczynski "Touched" by Support of Area Residents." Observer (Dunkirk), August 6, 2008.
Harvey, Craig. "Stuczynski Mania is in Full Swing." Observer (Dunkirk), August 10, 2008.
Harvey, Craig. "Isinbayeva Stands Between Jenn and Gold." Observer (Dunkirk), August 10, 2008.
Herrington, Mary Ann . "WNY Polonia Salutes Olympian 'Pole' Vaulter." Observer (Dunkirk), August 10, 2008.
Rukavina, Michael. "Stuczynski Family Talks About Their Olympic Experience." Observer (Dunkirk), August 24, 2008.
McDonnell, Samantha. "Highest 2012 Vault." Observer (Dunkirk), September 23, 2008.
Schwartz, Thomas. "Proud to be a Hillbilly." Observer (Dunkirk), September 28, 2008.
"Suhr Sets Pole Vault Record." Post-Journal (Jamestown), February 28, 2011.
"Suhr Returns To Olympics After Pole Vault Win." Post-Journal (Jamestown), June 25, 2012.
Harvey, Craig. "Good As Gold!" Observer (Dunkirk), August 7, 2012.
Kindberg, Scott. "Suhr: Incredible And Inspiring." Post-Journal (Jamestown), August 7, 2012.
Pulawski, Shirley. "Gold Standard." Post-Journal (Jamestown), August 7, 2012.
Pulawski, Shirley. "Residents, area leaders celebrate feat." Observer (Dunkirk), August 7, 2012.
Harvey, Craig. "Touch of gold." Observer (Dunkirk), August 8, 2012.
Winkler, Chris. "Golden Girl: Suhr Wins Pole Vault." Chautauqua Star, August 9, 2012.
"Suhr Clears Best Height In World This Year In Texas." Post-Journal (Jamestown), April 1, 2019.
Kindberg, Scott. "Vaulter Of The Decade." Post-Journal (Jamestown), February 14, 2020.

Videos

Nutrilite CF&V Commercial Featuring Jenn Stuczynski (January 2008)

Jenn Stuczynski (2009) CSHOF Induction

video courtesy Greg Peterson

Jenn Suhr (2012) Fredonia Olympic Signs

Jenn Suhr (2012) Hometown Olympic Pride

video courtesy Greg Peterson

Jenn Suhr Day in Fredonia, NY 9/22/12

video courtesy Sonya Anderson

Reaching New Heights - Jenn Suhr Wins Gold

Jenn Suhr Training (2013)

A look Back - Jenn Suhr (2013)

Jenn Suhr pole vaults 16' 5 1/2" on October 1, 2016 at SUNY Fredonia

video courtesy Greg Peterson

Jenn Suhr Wins Women's Pole Vault - IAAF Diamond League Eugene 2018

Websites

- "American Jenn Suhr wins Olympic pole vault gold, tops world-record holder ." Denver Post, August 6, 2012. Updated: July 26, 2016. Accessed January 26, 2019. https://www.denverpost.com/2012/08/06/american-jenn-suhr-wins-olympic-pole-vault-gold-tops-world-record-holder/.
- Zinser, Lynn. "From Out of Nowhere, a Vaulter Is on Cusp of the Olympics." New York Times, June 29, 2008. Accessed January 26, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/sports/olympics/29vault.html.
- "Jenn Stuczynski and Her Coach Talk Vaulting." American Track & Field Athlete, May 13, 2008. Accessed January 26, 2019. http://atf-athlete.com/read_feature/jenn-stuczynski-and-her-coach-talk-vaulting.
- "Jennifer Stuczynski Suhr." Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Accessed January 26, 2019. https://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/member/jennifer-suhr/.
- "Jenn Suhr." Wikipedia. Accessed January 26, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenn_Suhr.
- Sullivan, Jerry. "Jenn Suhr is still raising the bar at age 35." Buffalo News, May 28, 2017. Accessed January 28, 2019. https://buffalonews.com/2017/05/28/jenn-suhr-still-raising-bar-age-35/
- Casert, Raf."Jenn Suhr picks up silver at World Championships." Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester NY), August 13, 2013. Accessed January 26, 2019. https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/2013/08/13/newsgate-document-laimenewsgatenewsgatetoaimerochesterworkb938376601z120130813153406000/2649595/.
- Zaccardi, Nick. "Jenn Suhr reverses retirement, breaks pole vault records at age 36." NBC Sports. May 30, 2018. Accessed January 28, 2019. https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2018/05/30/jenn-suhr-retire-pole-vault/.
- "Jenn Suhr wins national pole vault championship." Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester NY), June 23, 2013. Accessed January 26, 2019. https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/2013/06/23/jenn-suhr-wins-national-pole-vault-championship/2450825/.
- Elliott, Helene. "Sky is the limit." Los Angeles Times, July 3, 2008. Accessed January 26, 2019. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jul/03/sports/sp-elliott3.
- "Stuczynski Wins Women's Pole Vault at USTATF Outdoor Nationals." National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. July 10, 2006. Accessed January 26, 2019. http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=205299411&SPID=98897&SPSID=644848.

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Jennifer Stuczynski Suhr

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Running into the Headwind: The Price of Olympic Gold The Untold True Story

more about Jennifer Stuczynski Suhr

Audios

Memorabilia

Photographs

Publications

Videos

Websites

Running into the Headwind:
The Price of Olympic Gold
The Untold True Story