Romain Mesnil
A flamboyant French pole vaulter whose charismatic showmanship and consistent elite performances made him a fan favorite for over a decade.
Born 1977 (age 49)·French pole vaulter·Birthday: June 13·Generation X
Biography
Romain Mesnil brought a rockstar's flair to the technical precision of pole vaulting. The French athlete, born in 1977, was as known for his celebratory backflips and dyed hair as he was for clearing bars at 5.95 meters. His career was a model of longevity at the highest level, regularly challenging for medals in major championships throughout the 2000s. Mesnil claimed multiple French national titles and stood on the podium at European Championships and World Athletics Finals. While an Olympic medal eluded him, his fourth-place finish in Beijing 2008 was a testament to his world-class standing. His rivalry with compatriot Renaud Lavillenie added a compelling domestic narrative to his later years. Mesnil's true legacy may be his persona; he understood that athletics was also entertainment, and he played his part with a joyful, unforgettable verve.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Romain was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Romain Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Romain's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the silver medal at the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg.
- Claimed the bronze medal at the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart.
- Earned a fourth-place finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
- Was a seven-time national champion of France in the pole vault.
- Holds a personal best of 5.95 meters, set in Castres in 2003.
Did You Know?
He was famous for performing a backflip after clearing significant heights in competition.
Mesnil often dyed his hair in bright colors, like blue or red, during major championships.
He publicly protested French athletics funding cuts by stripping to a loincloth at the 2010 French Championships.
After retiring, he became a commentator for French television, covering athletics events.
“The pole vault is a fight with yourself, and I love that fight.”
