Pole Vault: Final Frames Of the Olympic Games

At first glance it looked like another stop on the pro tour. Many of the world’s greatest players were out on the courts, dazzling sellout crowds with their lightning serves and smashes. But there was one difference, as tennis returned as an Olympic sport after a 64-year absence: instead of thousands of dollars in prize money, the bottom line was a medal for one’s country. Still, the pros had little problem getting pumped up for the new tournament. “This is, I think, the biggest one,” said Czechoslovakia’s soft-spoken Miloslav Mecir, who glided past Tim Mayotte of the U.S. to win the men’s singles. Agreed the women’s gold medalist Steffi Graf: “I think every athlete cares much more about winning it than about the money.” The West German grand slam winner downed Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina in straight sets. Some pros got a kick out of the amateurism. Laughed American Pam Shriver, who with Zina Garrison grabbed the gold in women’s doubles: “I’m staying in my first coed dorm. You don’t get that kind of luxury on the women’s tennis tour.” Americans Ken Flach and Robert Seguso won the men’s doubles.