In recent years, the athletic spirit among young professionals has been on the rise as fitness culture has become increasingly prevalent. With the influx of resources and technology, young professionals are now able to cover their fitness journey more easily and efficiently. Furthermore, the realization of the importance of physical activity and the impact it can have on overall health and wellness has been instrumental in inspiring many to reach their athletic goals. By tracking their performance, consulting helpful coaching resources, and competing with their peers, young professionals are now pushing themselves to greater heights of physical fitness.
This newfound athletic spirit has held a positive impact on the lives of many, leading to a more active lifestyle and improved mental health. In addition, the increased competition among peers has been an essential component in driving this spirit of athleticism forward. All in all, the athletic spirit among young professionals is at an all-time high, and it is only expected to grow further.
With the increasing trends of sporting activities, a wide array of sports has had the chance to take center stage and pole vaulting is the most popular one. For centuries, pole vaulting has been a beloved event in the track and field world. Its combination of skill, strength, and coordination has made it one of the most thrilling events to watch. In recent years, it has gained an even larger following, as youngsters have become increasingly drawn to the challenge and excitement of this sport. Schools and universities have been at the forefront of this movement, with many providing pole vaulting teams, camps, and clinics for students to take part in. Additionally, the growing number of competitions has made pole vaulting more accessible than ever before. With this newfound enthusiasm from young athletes, pole vaulting is sure to remain a popular event for many years to come. Sticking to its ever-increasing popularity, an individual named Antonio Roberto Ruiz became a renowned pole-vaulter to sprint at a high level.
Born on November 4, 1996, Antonio Roberto Ruiz is a Mexican professional track and field athlete known as Antonio Ruiz. He is well-known for his performances as a Mexican pole-vaulter and sprinter in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships and for taking part in international competitions such as the Pan Ames and Mexican national championships.
Ruiz grew up in Houston, Texas, and was born in Mexico. He graduated from Tomball Memorial High School. To continue his athletic career, he went to Texas Tech University to earn his BS in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Physics but unfortunately, met with a season-ending injury and got transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University. In his last year at SFA, Ruiz begin to sprint again and became the only pole-vaulter in the world that could sprint at a trend-setting level. After SFA, he went back home to the University of Houston where he finished his last three years of eligibility under Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrell, and Kyle Tellez’s guidance.
Later, he also earned a master’s degree in construction management from the University of Houston. His athletic career started at Tomball Memorial High School where he became a highly-ranked high school Track and Field Athlete and held eight Tomball High School records. Later in 2016, during his first indoor season, he competed in three settings and displayed his athletic expertise. The same year, he was named to the All-Big 12 Rookie Team.
While participating in NCAA West Regionals 2017, Ruiz took second place at the Southland Conference Championship. He finished 12th at the Pole Vault NCAA Indoor Championships in 2018 and was named the All-American Second Team. The same year, at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational, he ranked 1st in the Pole Vault Southland Indoor Championships.
Ruiz qualified for the NCAA national championships automatically in 2022. He finished second in the FasTrak Collegiate Challenge that year. At the NCAA West Prelims, Ruiz finished with a season-best 17 feet, 101/2 inches. Later, at the Tom Tellez Invitational, he cleared 17-101/2, adding to his indoor program record set during the 2019-20 season.
Considering his years of professional experience, Ruiz is named one of the top 2022 NCAA Division – Outdoor Track & Field USTFCCCA Men’s & Women’s All-America athletes in the NCAA Division. Aside from NCAA and USA competitions he won a Mexican national championship in 2018 and represented Mexico on the international stage at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima Peru.
Given his competing abilities in national tournaments, Ruiz was chosen for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 but had to withdraw due to Achilles tendinitis. Now out of the NCAA system, in which most professional track and field athletes stay for a longer time, Ruiz plans to compete in more international meets and aims to make the 2024 Paris Olympic Team for Mexico.