Allison Stokke Pole Vaulted to Internet Fame. Will Nike Bite?

There are unconfirmed and likely false rumors floating about that Nike will sign a marketing deal with high school pole vaulting sensation Allison Stokke. A few weeks ago, Stokke became the subject of a leering Internet drool fest much to the chagrin of Stokke and her family who felt, first hand, what's it's like to be the object of Internet admiration. While images of Stokke are said to have been circulating for years, it wasn't until an image of her posing her her pole appeared on the sports blog With Leather that things broke loose.

Stokke, 18, is a senior at Newport Harbor high school in Newport Beach, California, set the freshman female pole vaulting record of 12' 8" and now jumps consistently over 13 feet. She's won titles, broken records and earned scholarships but now she's feeling the unfortunate fame of becoming an Internet celebrity. At first, she kept it a secret when friends tipped her her images were beginning to appear all over the Internet. Shortly after that she told her parents and has now considered consulting handlers to deal with all the sudden media attention.

Many forum posts about Stokke contained the usual rudeness and crudeness the lowest common denominator is so fond of displaying. Whether or not Nike or any other marketer has or will shamelessly leverage her sudden fame and sign a deal with Stokke is unclear but this is a shining example of the speed at which a person can find themselves under the world's celebrity-infused klieg light, desired or otherwise.

One picture. One blog post. The Internet. The worldwide social network. It's never before been easier to get what you don't want.

Written by Steve Hall    Comments (7)     File: Online, Opinion, Social, Strange, Trends and Culture     Jun- 4-07