Blackburn Harriers Holly Bradshaw has had a long and distinguished career at the forefront of British and World Pole Vaulting. Her first ever Pole Vault competition took place on May 5th 2007 at Stanley Park in a North of England Division 2WC Match where she cleared 2.00m followed by a seasons best height of 2.30m in similar Match at Preston on July 8th. As a first year U17 Holly not only pole vaulted, she competed in the 100m, 60m Hurdles indoors, 80m Hurdles outdoors, High Jump, Discus, Javelin and Heptathlon. The rest is history as they say and her achievments prodigious. Rare in athletics, Holly now stands amongst those who have been to four Olympics – London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024, and still, the only British female pole vaulter ever to win an Olympic medal in the event, which she did in Tokyo. To achieve qualification for one Olympics is special indeed, to be at four consecutive Olympics is an extraordinary achievement.
At Sportcity on Saturday August 24th 2024, Holly brought the curtain down on her career as far as domestic competition in the UK is concerned, in front of a home crowd, her family, friends and supporters, clearing 4.55m and clearly enjoying the occasion — (VIDEO). Speaking to Athletics Weekly later and giving permission to the Club to reprint, Holly commented on her day and the emotions it brought up “I was just really grateful to be here, happy to be invited to take part in what was essentially a men’s competition. I wanted to compete on my home track. This is where I started 15 or 16 years ago and be in front of friends, family and local crowd for one more time.” Continuing she said “I’ve been doing a lot of pole vault only competitions this season where you pick your own song. It’s been a year about enjoying myself and today I felt that same energy from the crowd” “I’ve had a lot of good memories, but Manchester wins hands down. It doesn’t get better than competing here and that’s even including competing at London in 2012. “Now it’s time for me to move onto another chapter. I’ve had a great time and it’s time to move on to something else.”
In 2021 on June 26th Holly cleared her lifetime best height of 4.90m in winning the British Championships, just six weeks before the highlight of her career, clearing 4.85m to win Olympic Bronze on August 5th. Her career is littered with medals and titles at all levels, covering Junior and senior competition – Holly has done herself proud, she has held and promoted the highest ideals of the sport with integrity and honesty, proudly independent, strong and determined. She now embarks on a last round of competitions in Europe for which we wish her well and, all that is left to say is thankyou.
Photo courtesy of Anne Osborne
Photo courtesy of Anne Osborne
Photo courtesy of Anne Osborne
Photo courtesy of Anne Osborne
Photo courtesy of Anne Osborne
Photo courtesy of Anne Osborne
Photo courtesy of Anne Osborne
2021 – owns the top 66 vaults by a British woman (to 4.62)
Records as of August 2021
Pole Vault NR – 4.90, U23NR, Indoor NR, Indoor U23NR – 4.87
Major Championships and International Highlights
2021 – Olympic Games – PV BRONZE. European Indoor Championships – PV BRONZE
2019 – World Championships – PV 4th. European Indoor Championships – PV SILVER
2018 – European Championships – PV BRONZE. Commonwealth Games PV 4th
2017 – World Championships – PV 6th
2016 – Olympic Games – PV 5th
2015 – World Championships – PV 7th
2014 – World Indoor Championships – PV 9th
2013 – European Indoor Championships – PV GOLD
2012 – Olympic Games – PV 6th. IAAF World Indoor Championships – PV BRONZE
2011 – European U23 Championships – PV GOLD. European Indoor Championships PV 11th. European Team Championships PV 5th
2010 – World Junior Championships PV BRONZE
Domestic Championships Record
2022 – British Championships – PV Gold.
2021 – British Championships – PV Gold.
2020 – British Championships – PV Gold. BUCS Indoor Championships – PV Gold
2019 – British Championships – PV Gold. British Indoor Championships – PV Gold
2018 – British Championships – PV Gold.
2017 – British Championships – PV Gold.
2016 – British Championships – PV Gold.
2015 – British Championships – PV Gold.
2014 – British Indoor Championships – PV Gold.
2013 – British Indoor Championships – PV Gold
2012 – British Championships – PV Gold. British Indoor Championships – PV Gold
2011 – British Indoor Championships – PV Gold. England U23 Championships PV Gold. British Championships – PV Gold.
2010 – British Championships PV – Silver. England U20 Championships – PV Silver. British Indoor Championships – PV 4th. England U20 Indoor Championships – PV Bronze.
2009 – England U20 Championships – PV 6th. England U20 Indoor Championships – PV 7th
2008 – ESAA – 80mH 5th. English Schools Combined Events Championships Heptathlon 14th.
2007 – ESAA – 80mH 6th
