Mike Bull
# Mike Bull

Michael Bull (born 11 September 1946, Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a retired male pole vaulter and decathlete from Northern Ireland. He set his personal best in the pole vault (5.25 metres) on 22 September 1973 at a meet in London.

## Career

Bull first achieved success in 1966, winning silver for the pole vault at the Commonwealth Games. Then in 1970, he won gold at the Commonwealth Games. He appeared in 69 internationals for Great Britain and Northern Ireland and captained the team on numerous occasions. In 1991, he won the World Masters (over 40) pole vault in Finland.

Upon retirement from professional athletics, Bull lectured on sports studies and provided sports commentary for UTV (Ulster Television). He opened his own gym in Dufferin Avenue, Bangor, County Down (Northern Ireland), Mike Bull's Health Gym (now Paul's Gym), and was a fitness adviser for the Irish Rugby Football Union.

## Honours

In 2012, Dr Mike Bull was awarded the OBE by the Queen for services to sport and charity.

In 2014, Mike Bull was awarded the accolade of "Britain's Greatest Ever Pole-vaulter" in World renowned athletics magazine Athletics Weekly by leading statistician Mel Watman.

## Achievements

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1966 | British Empire and Commonwealth Games | Kingston, Jamaica | 2nd | Pole vault |
| 1969 | European Championships | Athens, Greece | 7th | Pole vault |
| 1970 | European Indoor Championships | Vienna, Austria | 7th | Pole vault |
| 1970 | British Commonwealth Games | Edinburgh, Scotland | 1st | Pole vault |
| 1972 | European Indoor Championships | Grenoble, France | 6th | Pole vault |
| 1974 | British Commonwealth Games | Christchurch, New Zealand | 2nd | Pole vault |
| 1974 | British Commonwealth Games | Christchurch, New Zealand | 1st | Decathlon |
| 1978 | Commonwealth Games | Edmonton, Canada | NM | Pole vault |
