Manchester Metropolitan University

• Current Students
• Staff

MMU Homepage»News & Events» Holly on a high after making Olympics

Holly on a high after making Olympics

Student pole-vaulter is a real medal hope

STUDENT Holly Bleasdale smashed the British outdoor pole vault record to claim her place at London 2012.

And Holly, who is studying Sport Science with MMU Cheshire, is confident that she can ‘go so much higher’ and win a medal at the Olympics.

The British indoor record holder sailed over 4.71m to take the record and qualify for Britain’s Olympic track and field squad at athletics trials in Birmingham on Sunday 24 June.

Needing to finish in the top two and clear 4.50m, Bleasdale failed in her first two attempts to clear the height, before sailing over the bar and then going on to take the record and pocket a £3,200 bonus.

Confident

“It’s the first time I have been able to put my new technique in place,” said the 20-year-old from Chorley.

“So, I will be so much more confident going into the games.”

Bleasdale, who also holds the indoor record with 4.87 metres, is now one of the main contenders for gold in London.

“I’m better than ever before and everything seems to be flowing now. I really can’t see why I can’t have a crack at the world record in the Olympics.”

“I can relax now and get my training right for the games,” she said. “It’s the position that I really wanted to be in.”

Bleasdale relegated former British record holder, Kate Dennison who also qualified, into second place.

Published Monday, 25th June 2012