Pierre QUINON

Shortly after an anonymous exit at the 1983 World Championships (he failed to make his opening height), Pierre Quinon came to international prominence. He bettered the world record by two centimetres, setting the new mark at 5.82 in a meet in Köln, Germany. His record lasted just a three days, when it was improved upon by his compatriot, Thierry Vigneron, who cleared 5.83 m. With the new world record holder Sergey Bubka absent in Los Angeles due to the Soviet boycott, the two Frenchmen were expected to contest the Olympic title. Vigneron, who had won the European indoor title earlier that year, was slightly favored, but he bowed out at 5.70 in the final, leaving just Quinon and American Mike Tully. Quinon cleared both 5.70 and 5.75 on his first attempt, forcing Tully to pass and ultimately fail at 5.80 m. An ankle injury in 1986 effectively forced Quinon to retire from competition at the highest level. Apart from his Olympic title, he had won three French titles (1982-1984) and he had recorded a 5.90 m jump at the Nikaia meet in Nice. After his retirement, he ran a rotisserie in Hyères until, in 2011, a depressed Quinon killed himself by jumping out of a window.

Personal Best: PV – 5.90 (1985).