Pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw on power of Sky Scholarship and aiming for medals and police

Lancashire residents beware! You may soon have a very determined, speedy policewoman with a head for heights doing your beat.

Fighting the law is a huge target for Holly Bradshaw, but that's on hold until the 25-year-old from Preston has realised her sporting goals with a pole in her hand.

With four years of support as a Sky Sports Scholar ending, GB's top polevaulter opens up on how Darren Campbell and Sky have boosted her fight to be mentally and physically fit for battle.....

I was just a kid going into London 2012, rocking up to events and I was out of control! As a Scholar I've changed a lot. I'm more meticulous in everything I do and more professional.

There is no stone left unturned now and I'm very confident and a totally different athlete. My coach says my transformation has been 'insane'.

My Scholarship's been amazing and I've met loads of brilliant athletes. In athletics, you don't really cross paths with others so that's been great sharing experiences and building relationships.

There have been so many other Scholar opportunities. I'm not the most confident person and I especially don't like public speaking and I've been put in a few scenarios where I've had to do exactly that and that's really improved my confidence.

I've had injuries between the two Olympics and it's got really frustrating at times seeing other athletes in competitions and you ask yourself 'why can't I do that?' My biggest challenge is not how technical or quick I am because I am good physically and mentally.

My challenge is robustness and staying injury free. I've worked hard over the four years and my coach and I know what works well and not so well. I've learned how to get the most out of myself to stay fit.

There have been lots of down points and there have been times I've asked myself if it's all been worth it. It's been relentless at times and difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But you know deep down it's what you're meant to do and the good times are around the corner.

Darren Campbell has helped me so much as my Sky mentor. We spoke about lots of things such as dealing with pressure but particularly coping with injury.

It was more chatting and him making me feel better. Around the 2015 World Championships and the Rio build-up I was really struggling and he was always at the end of the phone.

He reminded me that everyone went through these things and I should stay positive and confident and I would come back a stronger athlete. He just reassured me.

Darren went through all his injuries as an athlete and knowing the advice was coming from someone who's been through all of that gave you confidence and you took it all on board even more.

I used some of the Scholarship money for essential recovery equipment including an ice machine and compression machine. They really helped with getting in shape again and that was such a boost for my fitness for the Olympics.

I do joke with my coach I'll quit pole vault and change to a non-impact event like shot put or discus to reduce my injuries! I'm quite fast and it's my feet and Achilles that take all the hammering. Pole vault is what I love and there's no way I could give it up!

I love competing and that's what I thrive on. Thinking about a big championship always gives me goose-bumps. The two weeks before the event is the best time of my life. I get so excited and anxious and it'll be the same in August for the London World Champs.

Leading up to Beijing and Rio, I had big injury battles and the pain was unbearable at times but when I got there it was so worth it - I had the time of my life.

Competing at the last Worlds and Olympics were obviously amazing, but jumping at the Great City Games in Manchester in May a few days after the terrorist bombing was incredible.

Everything just came together for me. It was a huge day in so many ways on and off the track and it took two weeks to recover because there was such a huge release of emotions. There was so much passion in the city.

I do wonder how long I can stay in the sport. I've not achieved the things I know I can achieve and I will give it my all towards Tokyo.

I have a gut feeling I know the heights I can jump. I need to be injury-free to have a good crack at that but I'm aiming for major championship medals.

I've always thought I could win a medal at a Worlds or Olympics and my lifelong aim is jumping five metres. I just need to get myself in the right environment and within four to six years I know I can do that.

I've always wanted kids but right now I'm just thinking pole vault. I know the family will come. After pole vault then one thing I want is joining the police.

As a kid I always had inspiring role models like my PE teachers. But I feel it would be so fulfilling to be a police woman and would be a great way of giving something back. I also want to set up my own pole vault group and help youngsters and maybe do coaching.

I will always want to work though. I am terrible in my own company and get bored sat at home. Even if I was a trillionaire I'd want to do something.

While you're still a Scholar, it's sometimes easy not to appreciate it as much as you should. But I know after I leave I will look back and think it's one of the most amazing things I've ever done.

The next Scholars are so lucky and they need to take every opportunity. I remember the first time I rocked up in the Sky studios I was in complete awe at the whole campus.

When you're sponsored by a company you usually just do appearances, but being a Scholar at Sky has been all about learning experiences and that's just been incredible for me.