Tim Bright

Tim Bright
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
BornJuly 28, 1960
Taft, California, USA
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Pole vault, Decathlon
College teamLinn-Benton Roadrunners
Abilene Christian Wildcats
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)Pole vault: 5.85 m (1996)
Decathlon: 8,340 (1987)

Timothy William Bright (born July 28, 1960) is an American retired athlete in the pole vault and the decathlon.

Collegiate career

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Bright participated in track & field at Linn-Benton Community College from 1978-80, earning NJCAA all-America honors his sophomore year, and then transferred to Abilene Christian University. In 1991, he was elected to the NWAC Hall of Fame.[1]

International career

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Bright represented the United States in the decathlon at the 1984 Olympics, the 1988 Olympics, and the 1987 World Championships, and in the pole vault at the 1985 World University Games, the 1985 World Cup, the 1991 World Championships, and the 1992 Olympics.

In 1987, he scored a personal best of 8,340 points in the decathlon at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in San Jose.[2][3] At one point, he held the decathlon world record for the pole vault at 5.70 m, set during the 1988 Olympics.[4]

In 1991 and 1992, Bright became an American champion the in pole vault.[5] At the British 1985 AAA Championships, he finished second behind Kory Tarpenning.[6][7]

Post-career

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In 2010, Bright took up a coaching career in men's pole vault at Concordia University (Oregon) and Lewis & Clark College.[8] In 2019, he became a volunteer assistant coach for women's track and field at Oregon State University.[9]

Achievements

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Year Tournament Venue Result Event
1984 Summer Olympics Los Angeles 12th Decathlon
1985 World Cup Canberra 3rd Pole vault
1987 World Championships Rome DNF Decathlon
1988 Summer Olympics Seoul 7th Decathlon
1989 World Cup Barcelona 2nd Pole vault
1990 Goodwill Games Seattle 3rd Pole vault
1991 World Championships Tokyo 6th Pole vault
1992 Olympic Games Barcelona 12th Pole vault

Personal bests

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Information from World Athletics profile unless otherwise noted.

Outdoor

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As of June 20, 2025
Event Performance Location Date Points
Decathlon San Jose June 23–24, 1987 8,340 points
100 meters 10.90[10] San Jose June 23, 1987 883 points
Long jump 7.31 m (23 ft 11+34 in)[10] San Jose June 23, 1987 888 points
Shot put 14.35 m (47 ft 34 in)[10] San Jose June 23, 1987 750 points
High jump 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in)[10] San Jose June 23, 1987 906 points
400 meters 48.87 Los Angeles August 8, 1984 867 points
110 meters hurdles 14.16[10] San Jose June 24, 1987 954 points
Discus throw 41.74 m (136 ft 11+14 in) Los Angeles August 9, 1984 700 points
Pole vault 5.70 m (18 ft 8+14 in) Seoul September 29, 1988 1,132 points
Javelin throw 61.60 m (202 ft 1 in) Seoul September 29, 1988 762 points
1500 meters 4:42.34[11] Indianapolis June 18, 1985 666 points
Virtual Best Performance 8,508 points
Event Performance Location Date
Pole vault 5.85 m (19 ft 2+14 in)[12] Monmouth June 8, 1996

Indoor

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As of June 20, 2025
Event Performance Location Date
Pole vault 5.80 m (19 ft 14 in)[12] Atlanta March 4, 1995

References

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  1. ^ "LB Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2022". linnbenton.edu. August 17, 2022.
  2. ^ Fachet, Robert (June 25, 1987). "BRIGHT'S VAULTING BEATS MUZZIO IN DECATHLON". washingtonpost.com.
  3. ^ "History of US Nationals Results: Decathlon - Men". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  4. ^ "Decathlon: East Germans Finish 1-2; Daley Thompson Ends Up in 4th Place". latimes.com. September 30, 1988. American Tim Bright set an Olympic and world record for the decathlon pole vault by clearing 18-8 1/4.
  5. ^ "UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN 1943-)". gbrathletics.com. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  6. ^ "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  7. ^ "AAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN)". gbrathletics.com. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  8. ^ "2010 Men's Track & Field Coaching Staff". Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  9. ^ "Tim Bright". osubeavers.com. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d e "TAC Championships" (PDF). trackandfieldnews.com. July 2, 1987. p. 4.
  11. ^ "TAC Championships" (PDF). trackandfieldnews.com. June 27, 1985. p. 3.
  12. ^ a b "Tim Bright". brinkster.net. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
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