Holly Bradshaw fell to earth with an almighty bump as she went from Olympic medal to snapping her pole.
A year after the highest high of winning bronze in Tokyo, the Preston-born star suffered every pole vaulter’s nightmare on the first day of the World Athletics Championships. Never before in her 14-year career had she broken a pole but it happened at Hayward Field as she planted it in the box and threw herself into the jump.
The whiplash effect turned the 30-year old on her head and she dropped heavily onto her neck. A shaken Bradshaw said: “It’s the first time it’s ever happened in my career and I hope it never happens again. I am absolutely gutted, heartbroken.
