Molly Caudery: British pole vaulter targets titles and records after Olympic heartbreak
Caudery chose to miss out on the indoor spot in Europe to focus entirely on Nanjing, as the women’s pole vault final will start on Saturday at 02:10 GMT, live broadcast of the BBC.
The decision was to address calf injuries – with little pressure on the athlete, whose previous list of injuries included nearly losing fingers in a 2021 freak gym accident.
In a promising start to the year, the Cornwall-born athlete won 4.85 million times in Madrid in February to win the World Indoor Indoor Tour title.
That’s 5 cm higher than 12ms of her 12 competitors this season and lacks the entire Olympic podium in the lineup.
“Nothing is given, but if I go out and jump me, I can keep my title and that’s what I’m going to do there,” Taikudery added.
“It’s going to be an interesting year. I just showed up on the scene last year and it’s all very new.”
Nanjing marked her first major test of the year, leading to the World Championships in Tokyo in September.
But as Armand Duplantis continues to offer record entertainment in the men’s event, Caudery believes the main championship she pursues can also bring her closer to the mark of Russia’s Yelena Isinbaeva’s 5.06 million, which has been going on for nearly 16 years.
First, though, the challenge will be to join the Elite Five Meter Club – only four women in history can clear it.
But it was the end of an achievement, staying peacefully with her Parisian pain and new goals, and now it feels like it can be reached.
“We never focused on height, but I’m really close to that five-meter mark right now, and that’s a big deal,” said Caudery, who is seventh in history.
“I could have tried it well (in this indoor season) and it has been taken away by me. I’m so glad to be back in health, compete a lot and try more at five meters.
“The bars after that could be a world record. It’s so exciting to just have these conversations.”
