London 2012 Olympics: A night of heartbreak and joy for Holly Bleasdale

 
7 August 2012

She may not have done as well as she hoped in the pole vault final, but Holly Bleasdale was celebrating anyway last night after being proposed to by her boyfriend.

Bleasdale, 20, from Wigan, said she was "disappointed" by her performance in the Olympic Stadium, finishing in sixth place.

The British record holder was on the verge of tears as she failed her third and final attempt to try for a medal.

However things looked up for her later in the night as she tweeted: "6th in the Olympics and @bradshaaaw proposes to me :) epic day!!!"

Her boyfriend Paul Bradshaw wrote on Twitter: "I have just proposed to @HollyBleasdale and she said yes!!!!! Best day ever!"

Earlier Bleasdale said she was trying to look on the bright side.

She said: "I am trying to look at the positives and to finish in the top eight in my first Olympic final is pretty good, but I am just heartbroken with how it went today.

"I am only 20 and I feel like I could have performed well this year."Holly Bleasdale's hopes for an Olympic pole vault medal ended in bitter disappointment as nerves appeared to get the better of her on the big stage.

The Lancashire girl had been on the verge of tears as she failed her third and final attempt at 4.55 metres, well below her best this summer of 4.71m.

She looked nervous as soon as she was introduced to the crowd and almost went out at 4.45m, needing three attempts to clear her opening height.

Bleasdale was clearly fired up, punching the air with relief and delight when she finally cleared 4.45m.

But she was unable to steady herself from there, bailing out on her second attempt at the next height.

She said: "The conditions weren't great, it was really bad headwind.

"I'm really disappointed with how I did.

"I felt like I could have jumped around 4.70m but I struggled to cope with the conditions.

"I am trying to look at the positives and to finish in the top eight in my first Olympic final is pretty good, but I am just heartbroken with how it went.

"I am only 20 and I feel like I could have performed well this year."

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