Pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw fired up for opener in Diamond League at Birmingham
By Mark Ashenden
Last Updated: 04/06/16 4:06pm
Britain's top paulter Holly Bradshaw cannot wait to kick-start her season at the Birmingham Diamond League on Sunday.
The 24-year-old from Preston, now based in Cardiff, skipped the indoor season to ensure she was fit and ready for the outdoor campaign in the build-up to the Rio Olympics this summer.
Bradshaw has already produced the qualifying mark, but will still need to stay in shape to ensure selection having struggled with several niggling injuries since the London 2012 Games.
Ahead of this weekend's illustrious showdown at the Alexander Stadium, the Sky Academy Sports Scholar said: "This will be my first competition of the season for me so I'm super excited to get back out doing what I love.
"I love competing in the UK, especially Birmingham, as the British crowds are the best. My parents and husband are coming to watch which makes it more special.
"Competing abroad is great but in the UK they get to see me jump and I knowing they're in the crowd really spurs me on.
"2016 is going to be a great year - any year that has an Olympics in it is ultra special. I can't wait to get going and build momentum leading into Rio."
Bradshaw will be looking to improve in Brazil on her sixth place at the London Olympics four years ago. She also finished seventh at the World Championships in Beijing last year.
To help focus on perfecting her technique and staying fit during the close season, Bradshaw has been in South Africa and more recently the United States for pre-season winter camps.
Also competing on the Birmingham stage will be double Olympic champion Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford, the Olympic and world long jump champion looking to extend a winning streak dating back to July last year.
Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha is stepping down in distance to race over the rarely-run 600m.
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS
5 JUNE: Holly Bradshaw, Birmingham Diamond League
10-16 JUNE: IPC Athletics European Championships in Grosseto, Italy
23-26 JUNE: Lucy Garner, National Road Cycling Champs, Stockton-on-Tees
