East German Wolfgang Nordwig didn't use a Cata-Pole and won the gold medal, with Seagren coming second.

A 1968 University of Southern California graduate, Seagren took a try at professional track[1] and later he started his career in television and movies as a show host and soap opera actor.

[3] He was able to enjoy the spoils from these competitions because he had become a professional athlete having signed to join the International Track Association (ITA) tour after the 1972 Olympics.

On the ITA tour he renewed his very personal antagonistic rivalry with fellow American pole vaulter Steve Smith.

[4] Seagren went on to become an actor, appearing in several movies and television shows, including the controversial sitcom Soap in 1977 in which he played Dennis Phillips, a gay football player in a relationship with Billy Crystal's character Jodie Dallas.

[6] He was married to actress and Playboy Playmate of the month (January 1990) Peggy McIntaggart, and they had twins (a boy and a girl), McKenzie and Mika Seagren, born in 1997.