Olympic bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz has announced he will compete in Sheffield at this weekend’s Indoor European Trials and UK Championships as his 2013 preparations pick up pace.
The high-jumper enjoyed a 2012 to remember as he claimed European Championships gold before adding to that title by finishing joint-third at the London Olympics.
And Grabarz looks well-placed to continue his fine form this campaign too as he opened up his season by finishing second at last month’s British Athletics Glasgow International Match with a clearance of 2.29m.
This height wasn’t just good enough for the 25-year-old to finish runner-up to Russian Aleksey Dmitrik by just 2cm, but also secured him the qualification standard for March’s European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg.
Grabarz needs a top-two finish in Sheffield to earn himself a plane ticket to Sweden and that is exactly what he has set his sights on in order to keep his foot on the pedal all the way to August’s World Championships in Moscow.
“2012 was a crazy year for me and I could never have predicted the success that I had,” said Grabarz, who will be looking for his maiden indoor UK title after three silvers and one bronze medal over the last four years.
“This year has started pretty well after jumping 2.29m at the British Athletics Glasgow International Match but now I want to kick on and go even higher in Sheffield.
“I thrive off competing in front of British crowds and I’m sure they’ll get behind me again in Sheffield.
“I want to have a strong indoor season with a good performance at the European Indoors to set me up for outdoors so that I can go to the World Championships and challenge for a medal.”
But it isn’t just medals on Grabarz’s mind this season as he looks to take sole ownership of the British outdoor record after equalling Steve Smith’s height of 2.37m in the Lausanne Diamond League last year.
“There’s always something that you can pick apart and improve upon. I want that British outdoor record all to myself as opposed to sharing it with Steve Smith - I know there’s still more in the tank.”
© Sportsbeat 2013