British pole vaulter Molly Caudery says she is ready to soar higher than ever at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The 25-year-old from Cornwall holds the national record of 4.92m, set last year, but she believes she can go beyond it.

Her Olympic Games in Paris ended in heartbreak after failing to clear 4.55m in qualifying. Now, after months of uneven form, she insists she is peaking at the right time for Tokyo.

Caudery told the BBC: “I think if you jump a British record, while not taking it for granted, you are likely to be in medal contention. I definitely am in that shape.”

She admitted her season had been rough: “It hasn’t been the smoothest season, and gaining consistency has been a struggle. However, over the past month, I have found more of that, which sets me up well for Tokyo.”

Learning From Pain in Paris

Last year, Caudery grabbed bronze at the European Championships and the World Indoor Championships. She also cleared 4.80m to finish second at the Diamond League in Brussels and jumped 4.85m to win the British title in August.

She believes those marks can put her in the medal mix: “Looking at past competitions and the marks that have earned medals, there’s usually a mark around 4.80m. However, in the pole vault, it could be 4.90m-plus if conditions are favourable or 4.70m if it’s raining or windy. There’s evidence suggesting it would be around 4.80-4.85, but you just never know.”

Her experience in Paris remains a lesson. She entered qualifying with the highest mark but failed to make the final. “I was so focused on the final and winning an Olympic medal last year that I got caught up in that,” she admitted.

This time her focus is sharper: “Of course, the main goal is to get through qualification. This year, it’s about staying present, getting through to the final, and then seeing what I can achieve from there.”

As she heads into Monday’s qualifying, Caudery’s dream is clear: reach the podium and etch her name deeper into British athletics history.

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