Volume 4, Number 1 

It is the one glorious, identifying moment in Olympics history, chosen to represent all of the emotions, aspirations and passions of the Games. It belongs not to Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, Babe Didrickson, Wilma Rudolph, Bob Matthias or Al Oerter, Mary Lou Retton or even Michael Jordan. His image, above all others, depicts the ideal of the Olympics. The moment belongs to Bob Richards, Mr. Breakfast of Champions, owner of the energetic, positive voice and wide smile, the All-American Jack Armstrong.

For the record, Bob Richards is the only pole vaulter in the world to win back-to-back gold medals, in 1952 and 1956, London and Melbourne. Before he branched off into this specialty, Richards competed in the decathlon on the same tracks as Thorpe and broke his marks by 1,500 points. Like so many others, he drew inspiration from Jesse Owens, and would later help the world's greatest sprinter dig out of poverty and obscurity.

After the Olympics, Bob Richards studied to become Rev. Bob Richards, and today gives motivational speeches to sports crowds and corporate leaders. The 100th Anniversary Olympics in Atlanta have allowed Richards to resurface. His name and that famous image have resurfaced on TV spots and national magazine ads. He's witnessed today's corporate sponsors shell out millions of dollars to U.S. team members and, in contrast, challenges the justice in stripping Thorpe of his gold medals because he was paid a pittance to play baseball.

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