Holly Bradshaw feeling fresh ahead of Beijing
Holly Bradshaw feels she is a completely different athlete from the one who registered a no-height for the pole vault in qualifying at the World Championships in Daegu four years ago.
Bradshaw, then competing as Bleasdale, went into the 2011 championships in strong form having registered a then British record of 4.70m the month before, but she was unable to get the best out of herself and registered three failures at 4.25m - a height she had been routinely clearing.
The 23-year-old, who went on to finish sixth at London 2012, believes her new training regime has tailored her form and says she is feeling fresh going into Beijing.
"I was a totally different athlete back then," she says, reflecting on 2011.
"Now I've been with a new coach (Scott Simpson), we know how to strategically plan a season a lot better so I'm peaking for major competitions."
Bradshaw, who improved her British record to 4.87m indoors in 2012, admits to being surprised at her condition and feels that she is on an upward curve in terms of her form.
"I've been writing a journal of how I'm feeling each day and every entry is just how I can't believe how fresh I feel," she says.
"I've never been to an outdoor major champs and felt this amazing and fresh. Usually I'm on the way down, dipping and feeling as though my legs are tired and I can't really turn them over quickly.
"It happened in Daegu and a little bit in London," she adds. "So it’s really nice to finally feel what every other athlete feels like, fresh for the major champs."
