Sergei Bubka Doesn’t Think Much of Billy Olson, the Competitor

American pole vaulter Billy Olson has set the world indoor record four times this winter, but he has not impressed Sergei Bubka, his Soviet rival.

“He’s never won a major competition, an Olympic Games or a world championship,” Bubka said through an interpreter Tuesday during a press conference at the Airport Park Hotel. “He hasn’t even made the Olympic national team.

“If he was in a major competition, he wouldn’t know which way to go on the runway.”

Bubka, 22, and Olson, 27, will compete Friday night in The Times/GTE Indoor Games at the Forum and Sunday afternoon in the Michelob Invitational at San Diego’s Sports Arena. In their only meeting this year, Olson beat Bubka last Friday night in the Millrose Games at New York. It was the first time in six meetings since 1984 that Olson has won.

“I guess I didn’t know where the pit was at the Millrose Games, either,” Olson said Tuesday. “I guess maybe I don’t have any talent.”

When he pulled his tongue out of his cheek, Olson said he was surprised by Bubka’s comments.

“I’ve always thought Sergei was a nice guy,” Olson said. “Maybe he realizes now that I’m not so easy to beat.”

Bubka, who holds the world outdoor record at 19 feet 8 inches, won the 1983 world championships, a competition in which Olson failed to clear a height. Olson has the world indoor record of 19-5 1/2, half an inch higher than Bubka’s best indoor performance.

Olson has achieved his greatest success in U.S. indoor meets, which according to Bubka are minor competitions. He called them shows.

Bubka has criticized Olson before. After the Bally Invitational Sunday in Rosemont, Ill., Bubka said: “I personally think that Billy Olson, as an athlete, leaves much to be desired. I don’t want to diminish the importance of his success. He has achieved a number of very high results. But I don’t think he will jump much higher in the future. My technique and physical ability are much better than his.

“Only records set at world championships and Olympic games are really honorable. But Billy never performs decently at these competitions. He performs best at competitions that are more like shows than competitions.”