September 15, 2003
Pole Vaulter Bears His Backside at Crowd
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


Filed at 12:03 p.m. ET

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- German pole vaulter Tim Lobinger could be fined for bearing his backside at the crowd at the World Athletics Final in Monaco, track and field officials said Monday.

Nick Davies, spokesman for IAAF, the world governing body of the sport, said officials were studying the case and it was ``likely'' Lobinger will be stripped of US$5,000 in prize money from the weekend Monaco meet.

Lobinger is known in Germany for flamboyant behavior. He won the event in Monaco and then ran a ``lap of honor'' with his shorts down in front of a crowd that included members of Monaco's royal family.

Lobinger told German reporters it was a ``spontaneous'' move that was also meant to express his opposition to new rules, which give less time between jumps, among other things.

``We can not accept that sort of behavior,'' Davies said.

German federation (DLV) official said they were waiting for the IAAF report before deciding whether to impose their own sanctions.

``Such a behavior is not acceptable and not funny at all. We'll make it clear to Tim that something like this cannot be tolerated,'' said DLV president Clemens Prokop.

``We all know Tim's showmanship qualities. But even with all the tension of such an important competition, something like that doesn't belong there, it's rude unsportsmanlike behavior,'' Prokop said.

"Lobinger droht die Strafe nach dem Striptease"

Sounds like this guy loves the limelight. But on the subject of German pole vaulters, this provides me with an opportunity to share an old joke that I'm sure some of you have heard.

At the Olympic Games, a reporter in search of an interview approached an athlete and asked him 'Are you a pole vaulter?' Misunderstanding, he replied 'Nein! I'm a German! But how did you know my name was Valter?'

That sounds like something stupid I'd do.