Bruce Caldwell
Bruce Caldwell (born 25 January 25, 1951) is an American pole vault expert, manufacturer, and author. He is the owner and founder of Fiber Sport, eOnlineSports, TrackBagWorld, and is the vice president of Kanstet USA.[1]
Caldwell is also often referred to as Mr. Pole Vault.
Career
After writing his book The Elusive Bar, Bruce partnered with a pole vault illustrator and Colorado University Vaulter, Dave Bussabarger, in 1974, to write the second edition of the book.
After spending two years in college, preparing to be a coach and a sports therapist, he became more involved in the Pole Vault event study, which led him to consider how the design of vaulting poles could be improved.[2]
He then joined The Sky Pole Company in California after receiving an offer. In 1976, he gave one of his new pole designs to his friend, Earl Bell, who went on to break the World Record with the same pole.
In 1976, in Kansas City, Missouri, Bruce founded the FiberSport Track and Field Company. Sky Pole MFG started making his design a private label under the FiberSport name.
In 1980, the US boycotted the Moscow Olympics. Yet, Wladyslaw Kozakiewicz from Poland broke the pole vault world record twice at 5.78 meters and captured a Gold Medal using a FiberSport Vaulting pole designed and made by Bruce Caldwell.
Ten years later, Bruce sold the FiberSport Company assets to Sports Supply Group TM in Dallas, joining the staff, promoting the "PORTaPIT" TM name they had acquired.
In 1996, he led to capture the rights to be the official supplier to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games for 15 sports. They were launching the "PORTaPIT" line as the premier products at the Track & Field venue.
In 1998, Bruce founded a new company, the ESSX sport.[3]
In 1999, Bruce purchased the eonlinesports.com domain with over 100 products. In 2011, it became a dealer selling to individuals and schools. Bruce and his wife, Bonnie, run the platform today.[4]
In 2001, Bruce took the company public on the OTCBB trading under the symbol of ESXS, building equipment to make poles and landing systems. He sold the public entity and went private with ESSXsport; the company moved to become private in 2004, and he sold the manufacturing part of the company to UST- Mamiya Golf in 2012.
He built vaulting poles for Sam Kendricks at the request of his mother, Marni Kendricks, to provide something that would not break. Sam Kendricks today (2021) is the two-time World Champion and Indoor and Outdoor American Record Holder.
In 2018, He worked with Amber Anand and Varun Anand, the principal owners of NELCO India, a world supplier of track equipment, to develop a new discus system called NELCO Rim Glide TM.[5]
He worked with Amber Anand and Varun Anand, the principal owners of NELCO India, a world supplier of track equipment, to develop a new discus system called NELCO Rim Glide TM.[5]
In 2019, he resurrected the Registered Trademark FiberSport and the Vaulting Pole and added carbon to provide athletes with a durable, lightweight vaulting pole. Since 2019, only one to date has broken!
In 2021, he most recently worked on the Texas Expo Explosion Meet, the world's best pole vault event with 4 Kanstet VSS-1 surface Portable Runways.
Personal life
He is married to Bonnie Groenke Klahm Caldwell (Bargainbonnie).
