Bronze medal winner United States' Sam Kendricks celebrates after the final of the men's pole vault during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 15, 2016.
Bronze medal winner United States' Sam Kendricks celebrates after the final of the men's pole vault during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 15, 2016.
Natacha Pisarenko/AP

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It wasn't Kendricks' only spontaneous act that earned him praise

"Man did we need that right now," one sports site wrote

CNN  — 

Now, this is the side of American sportsmanship we needed to see after the Ryan Lochte shenanigan.

American pole vaulter, and Army reservist, Sam Kendricks was running toward an attempt at the pole vault when he stopped, dropped his pole and stood for the Star Spangled Banner.

Fortunately for Kendricks, the interrupted run was in the qualifying round. He went on to win a bronze medal Sunday at the Rio Olympics.

“If Ryan Lochte and his swim pals tarnished the reputation of U.S. athletes with their gas station bathroom antics last week, then 2nd Lieutenant (Army Reserve) Sam Kendricks polished it up quite a bit on Sunday night,” sportsgrid.com wrote. “It may seem like a small thing — some may even say foolish — but man did we need that right now. After Lochte’s shenanigans and subsequent interviews, out national image was hanging like it was attached by worn duct tape.”

It wasn’t Kendricks’ only spontaneous act that earned him praise. His seemingly celebratory reaction to Brazilian pole vaulter Thiago Braz da Silva winning the gold got him a special shout out on Twitter.

Kendricks’ father, and coach, described him as not his fastest or strongest athlete but a determined one who gravitated toward the pole vault where his more technical skills could allow him to excel.

“When he was young and was the smallest guy out there, everybody beat Sam,” Scott Kendricks told The Oxford Eagle. “Until he was like a senior in high school. Then when he got to college, everybody beat him again for like two years. As a dad, I was just proud he was able to do something well and consistently well.”

Scott Kendricks, a respected specialist in pole vault and high jump, was determined to help his son be the best. He followed him to his alma mater Ole Miss, as a volunteer assistant coach to focus on his son’s athletic career.

Last year, the younger Kendricks became a professional with Nike forgoing his senior year eligibility at the University of Mississippi, according to Team-Kendricks.com.