Rolando Cruz

For the Brazilian Olympic water polo player, see Rolando Cruz (water polo).
For the Rolando Cruz related to the Illinois criminal case, see Rolando Cruz case.
Rolando Cruz
Personal information
BornSeptember 17, 1939 (1939-09-17) (age 85)
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing  Puerto Rico
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place 1959 Caracas Pole vault
Gold medal – first place 1962 Kingston Pole vault
Gold medal – first place 1966 San Juan Pole vault
Ibero American Games
Gold medal – first place 1960 Santiago Pole vault
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 1959 Chicago Pole vault

Rolando Cruz (born September 17, 1939, in Salinas, Puerto Rico) is a former pole vaulter from Puerto Rico. He trained under Jimmy Curran at Mercersburg Academy and Jim 'Jumbo' Elliott at Villanova University.[1][2] He competed for his native country in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1956 and was the flag bearer for Puerto Rico in the 1964 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.[3] He is a three-time gold medalist at the Central American and Caribbean Games: 1959, 1962 and 1966.

Cruz later became a lawyer and president of a life insurance company. From 1977 to 1981 he served as Commissioner Of Insurance of Puerto Rico.

  1. ^ Curran is Given Trip to Europe, Morning Herald (Hagerstown), January 23, 1960
  2. ^ Puerto Rican Vaulter Eyes Finn's Mark, Hutchison News, February 4, 1963
  3. ^ "Rolando Cruz". olympedia.org. Retrieved 6 January 2024.