Dominique Rakotorahalahy

During the 1960s and 1970s in Madagascar Dominique Rakotorahalahy was the first athlete in the country to compete in the decathlon. Rakotorahalahy specialised in the pole vault where he was a multiple time national champion. He set a national record of 4.33 metres in 1970 that stood until 2004 when Florian Henry cleared 4.60 metres.

Rakotorahalahy was one of three track and field athletes to represent Madagascar at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. He competed in the decathlon but only finished the first two events, the 100 metres and the long jump, before pulling out of the competition. He was also scheduled to compete in his favoured event of the pole vault but did not start. After the Olympics Rakotorahalahy competed at the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos, Nigeria.

Personal Best: PV – 4.33 (1970); Dec – 5937* (1968).