Career
Matzdorf, a Junior at the University of Wisconsin, entered the July 3, 1971 track meet against the Soviet Union with a personal best of 7"-3" (221) set earlier in the year, indoors, in March. He broke the world record on his third attempt at that height. Matzdorf utilized the bent-leg straddle jumping style, a modification of the classic straight-leg straddle which dominated the sport in the 1950s and 1960s.