Holly can win gold, says Edwards (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Holly can win gold, says Edwards

6:30pm Saturday 7th July 2012 in Holly Bleasdale

HOLLY Bleasdale is “right in the mix” for gold at London 2012, according to former Olympic champion triple jumper Jonathan Edwards.

The Sydney 2000 gold medallist-turned TV presenter believes Bleasdale’s record-breaking performance at the Olympic trials means she will be a serious contender at the home Games.

Bleasdale broke the British outdoor pole vault record in qualifying for London, sailing over 4.71 metres in Birmingham.

And Edwards believes the 19-year-old World Indoor Championship bronze medallist can now rival two-time Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva in a month’s time.

“Holly I think has got a great chance,” said Edwards.

“She could finish eighth or she could finish first, second or third. I don’t think Yelena Isinbayeva has jumped yet this year and the world lead is 4.77m so nobody has jumped particularly high.

“Isinbayeva obviously had a great return to form at the World Indoors and indoors in general, so that is the person to watch out for. But apart from that Holly is right in the mix.

“She is still getting used to jumping on that bigger pole and everybody says once she gets used to that the sky is the limit.”

Bleasdale went into the trials on the back of a fine indoor season, in which she cleared 4.87m – her personal best.

“To get a bronze at the World Indoors and the third-highest vault of all time that was just a different level,” said Edwards.

* Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week took place from June 25-29 and is Britain’s biggest school sport event with more than four million pupils staging their own Games this year.

Find out more at lloydstsb.com/london2012.