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{{short description|American decathlete and pole vaulter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name        = Tim Bright
| image       =
| caption     =
| nationality = American
| sport       = [[Sport of athletics|Athletics]]
| event       = [[Pole vault]], [[Decathlon]]
| club        = 
| collegeteam = [[Linn–Benton Community College#Athletics|Linn-Benton Roadrunners]] <br> [[Abilene Christian Wildcats]]
| birth_date  = July 28, 1960 
| birth_place = [[Taft, California]], USA
| death_date  = 
| death_place = 
| height      =
| weight      =
| pb          = Pole vault: 5.85 m (1996) <br> Decathlon: 8,340 (1987)
}}
'''Timothy William Bright''' (born July 28, 1960) is an American retired athlete in the [[pole vault]] and the [[decathlon]].

== Collegiate career ==
Bright participated in track & field at [[Linn-Benton Community College]] from 1978-80, earning NJCAA all-America honors his sophomore year, and then transferred to [[Abilene Christian University]]. In 1991, he was elected to the [[Northwest Athletic Conference|NWAC]] Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web | title=LB Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2022 | date=August 17, 2022 | url=https://athletics.linnbenton.edu/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame/releases/class-of-2022 | work=linnbenton.edu }}</ref>

== International career ==
Bright represented the United States in the decathlon at the [[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics#Men's decathlon|1984 Olympics]], the [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics#Men's decathlon|1988 Olympics]], and the 1987 World Championships, and in the pole vault at the 1985 World University Games, the 1985 World Cup, the 1991 World Championships, and the [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics#Men's decathlon|1992 Olympics]].

In 1987, he scored a personal best of 8,340 points in the decathlon at the [[1987 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships]] in [[San Jose, California|San Jose]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Fachet | first=Robert | title=BRIGHT'S VAULTING BEATS MUZZIO IN DECATHLON | date=June 25, 1987 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/06/25/brights-vaulting-beats-muzzio-in-decathlon/8271e48a-ba95-44b5-bae0-ce7c9875314d/ | work=washingtonpost.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=History of US Nationals Results: Decathlon - Men | access-date=July 7, 2015 | url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055946/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=30 | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref> At one point, he held the decathlon world record for the pole vault at 5.70 m, set during the 1988 Olympics.<ref>{{cite news | title=Decathlon: East Germans Finish 1-2; Daley Thompson Ends Up in 4th Place | date=September 30, 1988 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-30-sp-3293-story.html | quote=American Tim Bright set an Olympic and world record for the decathlon pole vault by clearing 18-8 1/4. | work=latimes.com }}</ref>

In 1991 and 1992, Bright became an American champion the in pole vault.<ref>{{cite web | title=UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN 1943-) | url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/nc/usa2.htm | access-date=June 20, 2025 | work=gbrathletics.com }}</ref> At the British [[1985 AAA Championships]], he finished second behind [[Kory Tarpenning]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=AAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN) | access-date=June 20, 2025 | url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm | work=gbrathletics.com }}</ref>

==Post-career==
In 2010, Bright took up a coaching career in men's pole vault at [[Concordia University (Oregon)]] and [[Lewis & Clark College]].<ref>{{cite web | title=2010 Men's Track & Field Coaching Staff | access-date=June 20, 2025 | url=http://www.gocugo.com/coaches.aspx?path=track& | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011113316/http://www.gocugo.com/coaches.aspx?path=track& | archive-date=October 11, 2010 }}</ref> In 2019, he became a volunteer assistant coach for women's track and field at [[Oregon State University]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Tim Bright | access-date=June 20, 2025 | url=https://osubeavers.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/coaches/tim-bright/949 | work=osubeavers.com }}</ref>

==Achievements==
{| class="wikitable" style=" text-align:center; font-size:95%;" width="75%"
! Year
! Tournament
! Venue
! Result
! Event
|-
| 1984
| [[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
| [[Los Angeles]]
| 12th
| [[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon|Decathlon]]
|-
| 1985
| [[1985 World Cup in Athletics|World Cup]]
| [[Canberra]]
| bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd
| [[Pole vault]]
|-
| 1987
| [[1987 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
| [[Rome]]
| bgcolor="lightgreen" | DNF
| [[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Men's decathlon|Decathlon]]
|-
| 1988
| [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
| [[Seoul]]
| align="center" | 7th
| [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon|Decathlon]]
|-
| 1989
| [[1989 World Cup in Athletics|World Cup]]
| [[Barcelona]]
| bgcolor=silver | 2nd
| [[Pole vault]]
|-
| 1990
| [[Goodwill Games]]
| [[Seattle]]
| bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd
| [[Pole vault]]
|-
| 1991
| [[1991 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
| [[Tokyo]]
| 6th
| [[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Men's pole vault|Pole vault]]
|-
| 1992
| [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
| [[Barcelona]]
| 12th
| [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault|Pole vault]]
|}

==Personal bests==
Information from [[World Athletics]] profile unless otherwise noted.
===Outdoor===
{{updated|June 20, 2025}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Event
! Performance
! Location
! Date
! Points
|-bgcolor=#ccffcc
| '''[[Decathlon#Records|Decathlon]]'''
| {{n/a}}
| align=center | [[San Jose City College|San Jose]]
| align=right  | June 23–24, 1987
| align=right  | 8,340 points
|-
| [[100 meters]]
| align=right  | 10.90<ref name="TAC1">{{cite web | title=TAC Championships | date=July 2, 1987 | url=https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/eTN1987_16_USA_Ch.pdf | work=trackandfieldnews.com | page=4 }}</ref>
| align=center | [[San Jose City College|San Jose]]
| align=right  | June 23, 1987
| align=right  | 883 points
|-
| [[Long jump]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|7.31}}<ref name="TAC1"/>
| align=center | [[San Jose City College|San Jose]]
| align=right  | June 23, 1987
| align=right  | 888 points
|-
| [[Shot put]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|14.35}}<ref name="TAC1"/>
| align=center | [[San Jose City College|San Jose]]
| align=right  | June 23, 1987
| align=right  | 750 points
|-
| [[High jump]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|2.11}}<ref name="TAC1"/>
| align=center | [[San Jose City College|San Jose]]
| align=right  | June 23, 1987
| align=right  | 906 points
|-
| [[400 meters]]
| align=right  | 48.87
| align=center | [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|Los Angeles]]
| align=right  | August 8, 1984
| align=right  | 867 points
|-
| [[110 meters hurdles]]
| align=right  | 14.16<ref name="TAC1"/>
| align=center | [[San Jose City College|San Jose]]
| align=right  | June 24, 1987
| align=right  | 954 points
|-
| [[Discus throw]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|41.74}}
| align=center | [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|Los Angeles]]
| align=right  | August 9, 1984
| align=right  | 700 points
|-
| [[Pole vault]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|5.70}}
| align=center | [[Seoul Olympic Stadium|Seoul]]
| align=right  | September 29, 1988
| align=right  | 1,132 points
|-
| [[Javelin throw]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|61.60}}
| align=center | [[Seoul Olympic Stadium|Seoul]]
| align=right  | September 29, 1988
| align=right  | 762 points
|-
| [[1500 meters]]
| align=right  | 4:42.34<ref>{{cite web | title=TAC Championships | date=June 27, 1985 | url=https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/eTN1985_13_USA_Ch.pdf | work=trackandfieldnews.com | page=3 }}</ref>
| align=center | [[Indianapolis]]
| align=right  | June 18, 1985
| align=right  | 666 points
|-
| colspan=4 align=right       | '''Virtual Best Performance'''
| align=right bgcolor=#cffcff | 8,508 points
|}

{| class="wikitable" |
|-
! Event
! Performance
! Location
! Date
|-
| [[Pole vault]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|5.85}}<ref name="Brinkster">{{cite web | title=Tim Bright | access-date=June 20, 2025 | url=http://trackfield.brinkster.net/Profile.asp?ID=778&Gender=M&Page=Back&Tour=N&Year=&TF=T | work=brinkster.net }}</ref>
| align=center | [[Monmouth, Oregon|Monmouth]]
| align=right  | June 8, 1996
|}

===Indoor===
{{updated|June 20, 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" |
|-
! Event
! Performance
! Location
! Date
|-
| [[Pole vault]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|5.80}}<ref name="Brinkster"/>
| align=center | [[1995 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships|Atlanta]]
| align=right  | March 4, 1995
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/br/tim-bright-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418045102/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/br/tim-bright-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-18}}
{{Reflist}}

{{USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in men's pole vault}}
{{Footer US NC Pole Vault Men}}
{{Footer US NC Decathlon Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1984 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1988 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1992 Summer Olympics}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bright, Tim}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male pole vaulters]]
[[Category:American male decathletes]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from California]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Concordia University (Oregon)]]
[[Category:People from Taft, California]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Kern County, California]]
[[Category:World record holders in masters athletics]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1990 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]


{{US-polevault-athletics-bio-stub}}
{{US-decathlon-athletics-bio-stub}}