Researching Rick Suhr

Suhr’s contribution to American pole vaulting has had tremendous impact at the grass roots and professional levels. He has improved pole vault safety and technique through clinics, public speaking, and his consultation service at the youth level. Suhr has been a big advocate in helping push professional pole vaulting back into the American Track and Field circuit.

Suhr’s success over the last 8-year period took the National pole vault scene by surprise. This drew incredible interest and criticism. Suhr's competitors identify him to be at the highest expert level in what he does (pole vault technique). Suhr was quoted responding to criticism, "Success breeds incredible jealousy, first people say you are lucky, then they criticize your technique, then when they can no longer do that, they attack you personally and simply say “we don’t like his coaching style or philosophy”. Suhr started his career as a public educator teaching in the public education system.

Suhr is the youngest of four brothers who have had celebrated wrestling careers. Suhr’s background included: a state championship in wrestling, All-American status and inductions into The Wrestling Hall of Fame and Spencerport Athletic Hall of Fame. He and his brother John remain one of the few brother combinations to both win the New York State Wrestling Championships.

He founded Suhr Conditioning Systems in 1993 and built an indoor pole vault training facility behind his home in 1997. The business later became known as Suhr Sports. There he trained athletes from numerous disciplines including football, wrestling, and track and field.

In 2020 Rick Suhr authored the book "Running Into The Headwind: The Price of Olympic Gold The Untold Story" about his life in coaching and particularly the success of Jenn Suhr.