Worse than pit full of pole dancers? Meet the freedom pole vaulter from Paris

(A remake with a difference…)

The Romans had this saying, ‘Mens sana in corpore sano‘, meaning that, in order to have a healthy mind, you also need a healthy body.

The following story does not really support that theory, I’m afraid:

“A French pole vaulting champion has run naked with his pole through the streets of Paris and posted the video on the Internet, in an attempt to secure a new sponsorship deal. Romain Mesnil, 31, who won a silver medal at the 2007 Athletics World Championships in Osaka, used to be sponsored by U.S. sports brand Nike but says his contract expired last year and was not renewed.”

Well, I have to say that this little stunt must have closed all the other doors for him that weren’t nailed shut already in the U.S. of A.

First, there is the problem that most American sponsors would still be weary of supporting any person or product from France. What with freedom fries and all, would any US company, in these economically difficult times, be ready to go for broke for a freedom pole vaulting Gaul?

Then, would these sponsors be ready to go all out for someone whose idea of a freedom pole would be to run around naked through Paris, with his pole freely flapping about like a seriously belated and more than a bit demented ad for that ‘Free Willy’ movie?

I mean, talking about Orcas and stuff: Remember the shit fan that hit our American dolphin Phelps, when he was caught on camera, waving about a modest doobie…?

So, I’m afraid our streaking monsieur must look elsewhere for new sponsor deals.

He still seems fairly optimistic about his chances, though:

“Mesnil said he was offering sponsorship deals for companies and individuals on the internet auction site eBay. He told a news conference: “In my mind, it was an opportunity to do something funny. I am not ready to do anything to get a sponsor.””

Well, that is funny alright, mate but ‘not ready to do anything’…?

You could have fooled me.