Oxonian and Ole Miss alum Sam Kendricks walked away from the 2016 Summer Olympics with a bronze medal in the men’s pole-vaulting competition tonight in Rio.
Rafter’s Bar and Grill was packed as family members and friends gathered to see Kendricks compete. Among his hometown supporters was his mother, Marni Kendricks. His father, Scott Kendricks, cheered him on from the stands in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
People gather in Rafters Bar and Grill to watch local Olympian Sam Kendricks compete in the pole-vaulting competition. (Photo by: Taylor Cook)
“It’s overwhelming,” Kendricks mother said after the competition.
The watch party opened with a prayer from Fish Robinson, the pastor at Community Church Oxford. Robinson prayed for the families of the six Oxonians who died in a plane crash Sunday morning as well as the 11 children orphaned by the event at the request of the Kendricks family.
It was the 23-year old’s first olympics and Oxford High School’s first Olympian. Lafayette High School previously had a women’s basketball Olympian in Jennifer Gillom at the 1988 summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea.
Brazilian Thiago Braz da Silva won gold and set a new Olympic record by vaulting more than six meters. He replaced the previous Olympic record of 5.98 meters, which belonged to Frenchmen Renaud Lavillenie, who won silver.
Kendricks faulted three times in a row and placed third when he attempted to vault 5.93, failing to overcome his personal best at 5.92 meters.
“I did not set a personal best but I attempted it,” Sam Kendricks said in a statement released by Ole Miss athletics. “I missed it very close three times, so I cannot be ashamed of my effort. I’m very proud of my bronze medal.”
Although Oxford did not win gold tonight, the city might have another shot in four years. Marni Kendricks said her son is definitely planning to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
