Don Laz

{{Short description|American pole vaulter (1929–1996)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2017}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name =

| image = Don Laz 1951.jpg

| image_size = 225px

| caption = Laz in 1951

| birth_name =

| fullname =

| nationality =

| residence =

| birth_date = May 17, 1929

| birth_place = Chicago, U.S.

| death_date = February 21, 1996 (aged 66)

| death_place = Champaign, Illinois, U.S.

| height = 188 cm

| weight = 82 kg

| country =

| sport = Athletics

| event = Pole vault

| pb = 4.65 m (1952i)

| club =

| alma_mater = University of Illinois

| retired =

| olympics =

| highestranking =

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}

{{MedalOlympics}}

{{Medal|Silver| 1952 Helsinki| Pole vault}}

{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}}

{{MedalBronze| 1955 Mexico City | Pole vault}}

}}

Donald Robert Laz (May 17, 1929 – February 21, 1996) was an American pole vaulter. He won a silver medal at the 1952 Olympics and a bronze at the 1955 Pan American Games. Domestically he held the NCAA title in 1951 and shared the AAU title in 1953. After retiring from competitions he worked as an architect in Champaign, Illinois, and retired after suffering a stroke.

Competing for the Illinois Fighting Illini track and field team, Laz won the 1951 NCAA DI outdoor pole vault title.{{Cite web |date=2012-08-20 |title=Pole Vaulting Classic: Don Laz - Vaulter Magazine - Pole Vault News |url=https://vaultermagazine.com/pole-vaulting-classic-don-laz/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=vaultermagazine.com |language=en-US}}