01/11/2025
Over the last two weeks many of us will have taken time to reflect the sad news of Eamon FitzGerald passing.
At this time of grief and reflection my thoughts and condolences go to Eamon’s wife Stella and their family, of whom Eamon was always proud off; sharing each members achievements in many of the conversations we had together.
Within the Pole Vault Family of Scotland and wider afield there is the select group of athletes, Eamon coached over the years, who will also be reflecting on their time, spent, working with Eamon, to whom I share my condolences.
As many people would have known. Eamon was a huge figure in terms of Pole Vault Coaching and Pole Vault Performance Development in Scotland, the UK and further afield. His technical knowledge on the event was second to none and perhaps we didn’t take the time to record that knowledge while he was still with us.
I am sure there will be hundreds of people reflecting on how meeting Eamon impacted on their lives, as athletes and coaches. Key to these reflections will be Eamon’s passion for the pole vault and his support for all pole vaulters and pole vault coaches. At this point it is also important to reflect on the influence Eamon was on athletes and coaches across all genres of the sport of athletics. A true polymath of our Sport.
I was fortunate to be mentored by Eamon for over 30 years. Of course, Eamon would never have called it something as stuffy as “Mentoring” and within our conversations he would always expect us to be challenging each other as to what we were trying to do in the development of the event. The opportunities he created through his roles in Grangemouth, the Bank of Scotland Squad, Links within UK Athletics, visits to Germany and visits from German and French Coaches to Scotland were immense.
Being mentored by Eamon, I learned that the role of a coach was to challenge athletes and for athletes to challenge their coaches; as well as knowing when athletes needed to move onwards. It was also important that in order to develop the event there were times to challenge the thinking of those with the ability to change the direction of travel of the event/sport. Many CEO’s of Scottish Athletics and facility managers would have been involved in polite and respectful, yet challenging conversations, over the years.
With Eamon’s parting from us, it is important we look forward and reflect just how much Eamon’s influence will continue to shape the future of Pole Vault Development in Scotland. Now that’s a legacy not many of us will ever replicate.
Thank you, for everything, Eamon. Now, Rest Easy.
