The Surprising Story Behind Pole Vaulter Allison Stokke’s Innocent Viral Photo

Some users on social media may innocently post pictures and videos. But, the results that follow aren’t always positive, as is the case with this 17-year-old high school athlete from California, Allison Stokke.

Allison felt she didn’t fit in with the gymnastics world, even though David was successful at it and even competed nationally. She wouldn’t let her dream die of becoming an athlete, so she searched for a new sport, one that she hopefully would enjoy more than gymnastics.

It didn’t take Allison a long time to master the craft of pole vaulting and became one of the most successful pole vaulters in the United States. She was only 15 years old! Jumping 12.5 feet, she won the country’s honorable title. Even though she started successfully, something horrific happened to her that nearly got in the way of her newfound passion.

Allison set a new record after jumping 12 feet, 7.75 inches. She vaulted 13 feet and 5¾ inches the year after, subsequently breaking her previous record. She also was a winner of the CIF California State Championship. It seemed as if everything was going well for Allison. 

Allison was experimenting with a different pole one day since training with a larger pole would assist in improving her skills. However, as she was running to the bar, her misjudgment of the height she needed to jump was the cause of a horrendous accident.

Allison’s recovery took six months and then she was able to return to pole vaulting in full form. She remained optimistic that she would return even stronger, although she hadn’t practiced for so long. In the days following, Allison would have had no idea that she would be at the center of a viral post.

Following high school, Allison received a scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley. While it appeared as though everything was working out for the impressionable athlete, she had no clue her life was about to turn upside down.

That same photo taken by an innocent bystander was posted online on a California Track and Field website. It turned Allison into a household name and sensation. As everybody knows, once photos are posted online, anyone can see them. And so was the case with the photo of Allison.

As you see in the above photo, Allison was waiting patiently for her turn. At face value, the photo seems nothing out of the ordinary and may not even seem like viral content. However, it was not until the photo was featured in a notorious blog that it went viral.

As if posting Allison’s photo was not enough, the blog commented on her appearance. The comments had nothing to do with her talent or career. Shockingly, the blog created a headline that only made matters worse for the innocent athlete. The goal was only to attract their clients’ attention.

Matt Ufford, the blog owner, wrote this infamous article. It was not right for him to use this young woman’s photo primarily because she was a minor. Attempts to take legal action against the website were made. However, it was too late.

Allison dominated websites and blog posts globally within a short time. In addition, mainstream media companies like the BBC and the New York Times covered the story, further worsening the situation. Finally, the original photographer decided to protect the innocent girl by taking legal action against the blog owner.

Unfortunately, by the time the photographer took this action, it was too late as Allison’s photos were already available all over the internet. Many blogs, media sites, and other websites had the photo, and it was impossible to take down the photo from all sites. As a result, Allison’s life took a turn for the worse.

It was not easy for Allison after the image-damaging incident. The number of emails and phone calls that she received overwhelmed her. In addition, there were countless interview and photoshoot requests. Fortunately, her parents were there to help her take control of the situation.

The internet had become uncomfortable and scary, and Allison had to devise ways to use the same internet to overcome these challenges. She created her own YouTube channel where she showcased her talent and talked about her profession. Also, she shared educational information on how vulnerable young women’s photos and videos could go viral without their consent.

On Facebook and other social media platforms, many impersonators created fake profiles claiming to be Allison. It became increasingly hard to differentiate between what was genuine and what was fake. Allison’s father decided to take things into his own hands and used his experience as a lawyer to sue anyone riding on his daughter’s fame.

Here is what Allison said:

“Even if none of it is illegal, it just all feels really demeaning. I worked so hard for pole vaulting and all this other stuff, and it’s almost like that doesn’t matter. Nobody sees that. Nobody really sees me.“

As a freshman, the incredible pole vaulter won and broke several records. Later, she maintained a low profile and was not active on social media. But, she still ranked as one of the best pole vaulters in the Pac-12 Conference in her sophomore year.

Allison finally managed to join the U.S. Olympic team to represent the country in the 2012 London Olympics. But, unfortunately, despite training like never before, she didn’t qualify. So, now that her dream to participate in the Olympics was over, she had to look for something else to do.

As a model, Allison worked with prominent apparel companies such as Nike, Athleta, and Uniqlo. She also collaborated with GoPro on an offer she couldn’t decline. She would go on to post several videos of pole vaulting through YouTube.

Rickie started playing golf at a young age. He was once the Number 1 amateur in the world before going professional. He participated in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the U.S. Open. Although he has never won a major golf competition, he regularly ranks top-10 in these events.

Allison and Rickie got married in October of 2019. However, the wedding was attended by only 48 people, who were either immediate family or friends. Although the couple originally planned to hold the wedding at Baker’s Bay in the Sea of Abaco, they had to change the venue after Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas.

According to some reports, Puma, the company sponsoring the pro golfer’s career, sent them its private jet. The couple reportedly went to Cape Town, South Africa, for a honeymoon. However, what is evident is that, after the wedding, the couple decided to spend some time away from the media.

Allison is still a fitness model. Social media has helped her reach millions of people around the world. Her fans can learn about her pole vaulting journey in some pictures and videos she shares online. She’s an inspiration to many young girls aspiring to become professional athletes.

Despite being a talented athlete, Allison found herself being praised for her beauty and physical appearance. Unfortunately, the internet has made it even harder for the authorities to control this behavior. Everyone needs to learn that sexualizing athletes affects their physical and mental well-being.

Although the internet is a good tool when used properly, it can be a dangerous element to cyberbullying. Allison was only 17 when she was photographed, yet this didn’t stop faceless online personalities from trying to stalk her. Before portraying a photo in any way, it’s important to consider the effects of such actions.

As mentioned, Allison is an inspiration to young girls aspiring to become athletes. Her story can help those at the risk of being victimized by preparing them psychologically. When the situation happened to Allison, she turned to her parents and professionals for assistance. Any person facing similar issues should seek immediate help from experts and close family members.

A few years into their marriage, everyone asked when their first child would come. Given that the two are athletes, one would assume that they’d raise a child with similar athletic interests. However, on June 22, 2021, the couple made an important announcement.

Rickie and Allison are expected to welcome their new family member in November of this year. After four years of being together, they hope that the expected girl will strengthen their relationship. In addition, maybe the baby will give them a reason to concentrate more on their careers.

Allison was able to turn an otherwise ugly situation into an amazingly inspirational story. She used the fame she got from the infamous photo to go into modeling and discuss her situation on YouTube. As a result, she’s a role model to many who struggle with the negative effects of the internet.