John Hans Uelses was an American pole vaulter. He made history by becoming the first man to vault over 16 feet – on February 2, 1962, at the Millrose Games in New York's Madison Square Garden, before a sold-out crowd, Uelses soared over the bar at 16' 1/4", making headlines around the world. John Uelses (United States) set the men's pole vault world record of 4.89 m in Santa Barbara, U.S. on March 31, 1962. It stood 28 days, until Dave Tork's 4.93 m on April 28, 1962. Wiki link