FROM heartbreak in Paris to fire in Nanjing, Molly Caudery insists she is ready to prove her Olympic nightmare will not be career defining.
The world indoor champion is tipped to retain her pole vault title in China tomorrow.
Her Olympics shock, when she failed to register a clean effort in qualifying despite being the favourite, is serving as big motivation.
Caudery said the days after Paris were “like a grieving period” but she went home to Cornwall, spent time healing in the sea and worked closely with a psychologist.
Understanding what went wrong has been a challenge.
Caudery said: “It was just a bad day to have a bad day.” But the outcome has been channeling it into her future efforts. “One thing I did get from Paris was an extra fire and extra desire for this year,” she said. “If that’s what I can take from it, that’s great. I took that into the winter.
“I’ve trained so hard and I’ve come out this year and there is that extra want in me — and I think that’s a positive thing.
“I don’t think it really was down to anything.
“Probably on average I may no-height once a year or most athletes may no-height once a year, or once every two years.
“Mine just happened to be in the biggest competition of my life. Not ideal but what can I do now? All I can do is learn from it and not let it happen again.”
Winter has been interrupted by hamstring and calf injuries but a leap of 4.85m in Madrid late last month has filled her with confidence.
“It’s not been ideal,” the 25-year-old said...
The world indoor champion is tipped to retain her pole vault title in China tomorrow.
Her Olympics shock, when she failed to register a clean effort in qualifying despite being the favourite, is serving as big motivation.
Caudery said the days after Paris were “like a grieving period” but she went home to Cornwall, spent time healing in the sea and worked closely with a psychologist.
Understanding what went wrong has been a challenge.
Caudery said: “It was just a bad day to have a bad day.” But the outcome has been channeling it into her future efforts. “One thing I did get from Paris was an extra fire and extra desire for this year,” she said. “If that’s what I can take from it, that’s great. I took that into the winter.
“I’ve trained so hard and I’ve come out this year and there is that extra want in me — and I think that’s a positive thing.
“I don’t think it really was down to anything.
“Probably on average I may no-height once a year or most athletes may no-height once a year, or once every two years.
“Mine just happened to be in the biggest competition of my life. Not ideal but what can I do now? All I can do is learn from it and not let it happen again.”
Winter has been interrupted by hamstring and calf injuries but a leap of 4.85m in Madrid late last month has filled her with confidence.
“It’s not been ideal,” the 25-year-old said...
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Daily Express (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 21, 2025