The High Expectations Of Sondre Guttormsen

Sondre Guttormsen has been one of Norway's fastest-rising youth pole vaulters over the last several years. 

But with one more academic year left, the 18-year-old moved to Davis, California, this past fall and joined Davis Senior High to finish out his education.

Sondre's father, Atle, a professor in Norway, has taken his professional sabbatical in Davis three times over the last 18 years, which happened to coincide with when Sondre was born in 1999. So the teenager is actually a dual national of the United States and Norway. 

But that's been one added bonus for the Blue Devils, who immediately added one of the top pole vaulters in the country.

"That makes some connection I think, this is his birthplace," Atle said. 

Guttormsen, who inked with UCLA over the early signing period in November, immediately got to work, clearing what then was the second-highest vault in high school indoor history at the National Pole Vault Summit, going 18 feet, 0 inches to win the high school division in January. He also broke a long-held record at The Simplot Games in Idaho and now looks forward to his outdoor season, as he hopes more record marks will go down. 

One of his biggest meets on the calendar is arriving this weekend in Texas. 

Learn more about Guttormsen's history in the feature above. 


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