World indoor champion failed three attempts at 4.55m as fellow Briton Holly Bradshaw also went out in women’s pole vault qualifying in Paris
Molly Caudery would usually expect to clear 4.55m with ease. It is a routine height that is 37cm short of her British record. But women’s pole vault qualifying on Monday morning at the Paris Olympics she inexplicably failed to get over it three times and will not compete in the final.
The world indoor champion from earlier this year, Caudery was expected to challenge for a podium place. Even gold was a distinct possibility. Instead, she will have to watch from the sidelines and will travel home wondering how and why it all went wrong in the biggest event of the year.
“I am currently in a bit of shock,” she said. “I am so disappointed. I don’t have any excuse. I felt great and in the best shape of my life, I loved the big crowd, I didn’t feel overly nervous, I don’t have a reason right now for what just happened. This is going to take a bit of time to process.”
The 24-year-old continued: “4.55m is a bar that I jump day in, day out. There is not one piece of doubt in my mind that I wasn’t going to clear it.
“Some people might say I came in too high, but that’s certainly not mine or my coach’s opinion. When I have been jumping 4.80m and 4.90m all year round, 4.55m shouldn’t have been a problem. It is just a really unfortunate day.”
To add to the British woes in this event, Holly Bradshaw also failed to progress as she failed at 4.20m. An Olympic bronze medallist from three years ago, these are her final Games and she was hoping to go out on a better note.
Holly Bradshaw (Getty)
“It’s not the ending I wanted but in life you don’t always get what you deserve,” Bradshaw said.
“I think I’m just a bit crushed. I have struggled all year with a niggly Achilles and my team have done an amazing job to get me pain-free. Today was the first competition or training session I have been completely pain-free.
“I think with what happens in pole vault I was on the back foot, I was on too soft a pole, had a bit of a flirty wind which with a better build-up I would brush off, but I just got caught out with a few technical and tactical decisions.”
She added: “I felt really good, its only taken 4.40-55m to make the final and I am well worth that at the minute. I’ve had an awful year and struggled to come to terms with dad passing away but I don’t think anyone ever does, but to make it here…
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