One year after winning Olympic Pole Vault Bronze, Holly Bradshaw was left “heartbreaking” crying in a heap after a freak accident that saw her pole break in half dramatically during her warm-up, sending her flying through the air and forcing her to stop the World Championships through injury without even stopping. compete.
Bradshaw was lucky enough to escape serious trauma when she landed on her neck and slipped off the mat into the well.
After climbing gingerly to her feet, she tried to continue warming up, but a back flap kept her from running at full speed without pain, forcing her to tearfully pull out of qualifying.
“It’s the first time it’s ever happened in my career,” she said. “I was absolutely gutted, I was heartbroken, I cried in the box, sobbing. It was a huge, huge shock.
“I felt really good here for three weeks. It’s been a mixed season and a lot of things haven’t gone my way, but the last three weeks have been great.
“It’s just not meant to be. It’s something I have absolutely no control over. There was no way I could have known this would happen. It’s such a freak accident.
“Initially I had crazy pain in my wrist from the vibrations. Something is wrong with my glute and hamstring.
“I was warmed up again, but I couldn’t push my body enough to feel confident on the run. I’m here for a medal, I’m not here to finish sixth or make up for the numbers in the final.