Going into the Olympics, Holly Bleasdale admitted it would be “soul destroying” if she failed to reach the pole vault final.
On Saturday, the 20-year-old dismissed those fears as she cleared the qualification height of 4.55m and tonight she will return to the Olympic Stadium for the final.
Bleasdale has been talked of as a potential medallist but she faces rivals who are infinitely more experienced. Among those standing in her way are Russian Yelena Isinbayeva, the greatest pole vaulter of all time, American Jennifer Suhr, who boasts a world-best 4.83m, and world champion Fabiana Murer.
Bleasdale, who took up the sport around the time of the last Olympics, is just hoping she doesn’t “bomb out”, which is what happened at last year’s World Championships where she failed to make the final.
Bleasdale cannot quite believe she is in an Olympic final. “People keep telling me that I’m quite good and I still sometimes think that I’m club level,” she said.
Bleasdale will go into the final brimming with confidence. Her best of 4.87m indoors earlier in the season has not been bettered outdoors in 2012.
Remembering her career-best leap, she said: “I look back on the 4.87 and it looks effortless. I have a competition like that every year. I’m hoping it’s going to be the Olympic final where it feels effortless.”
The finalists:
1 Elena Isinbaeva Rus
2 Yarisley Silva Cub
3 Jennifer Suhr US
4 Lisa Ryzih Ger
5 Anna Rogowska Pol
6 Silke Spiegelburg Ger
7 Holly Bleasdale GB
8 Vanessa Boslak Fra
9 Martina Strutz Ger
10 Becky Holliday US
11 Alana Boyd Aus
12 Jirina Ptacnikova Cze
Watch Holly Bleasdale in tonight’s pole vault final at 7pm (BBC1)
