Holly Bradshaw wins Britain’s second division athletics medal in Tokyo and finally landed her first major championship podium with a bronze pole vault.

The 29-year-old, who finished fifth and sixth at the Rio 2016 and London 2012 tournaments, defeated reigning champion Katerina Stefanidi. As she cleared 4.85 m.

But Holly Bradshaw was unable to follow U.S. gold medalist Katie Nageotte or Russian world champion Anzhelika Sidorova at over 4.90m.

The Chorley athlete looked disappointed at first. After clearing 4.90 million in June for the new personal best But soon there was a smile when she was greeted by Coach Scott Simpson at the racetrack.

Bradshaw’s coin is Great Britain’s 51st coin in Tokyo. That equals their total from Beijing 2008 with three more days of competition.

The Olympic bronze marked the culmination of nearly a decade of almost missed and bitter disappointment for Bradshaw. After successfully qualifying for the top six in a major final without contending for the title

The start of her 2021 season was less than ideal. Because she missed the expected European Indoor position before the results of the COVID-19 test. Be positive when she comes home.