Holly Bleasdale has taken her first significant steps towards success at the Rio 2016 Olympics with a return to training following an injury lay-off.
The British pole vault record holder and European indoor champion is ready to hit the ground running again after suffering a double injury blow with Achilles and back problems during training which led her to miss the entire outdoor campaign this year.
The 21-year-old believes a strong winter training block will stand her in good stead for a busy 2014, where she will bid to better her World Indoor Championship bronze and claim Commonwealth Games gold for England.
“Being that young at my first Olympic Games it was a major experience,” said Bleasdale of the London 2012 Olympics, where she finished sixth.
“I had quite a lot of pressure on myself and put pressure on myself as well but apart from that I really, really enjoyed it.
“Deep down I know that I have that experience and all of the things that I learnt from that, I can move forward on to Rio which for me now is the next massive goal. I want to go there confident, happy and just do the best there that I can really.
“Coming up first though I have got the world indoors which I love, and I won a bronze medal there last year so I want to improve on that and maybe get a silver or a gold.
“And I have never competed at a the Commonwealth Games before so I really want to go there, get a bit of experience, compete for my country and come away with a gold medal.”
Achieving those goals would represent a stunning return to fitness and form for Bleasdale, who is now based in Cardiff and working under the full time guidance of Scott Simpson.
And she believes he is the man to put her on track to glory at Rio 2016.
“I just want to go and compete in another Olympics now but I have got quite a few championships before then which is good for me because I can learn from them,” said Bleasdale.
“I learn things every time I go and compete against the best girls in the world but Rio is always in the back of my mind.
“I just want to keep enjoying my sport, keep injury free, and keep progressing towards Rio. In the next two or three years I think I will be in a good place.”
© Sportsbeat 2013