Holly Bradshaw claims Team GB's first EVER medal in the pole vault as Preston-born athlete takes bronze behind Team USA's Katie Nageotte and Russian Olympic Committee competitor Anzhelika Sidorova
- Team GB's Holly Bradshaw took the bronze in the Olympics women's pole vault
- The 29-year-old has become Britain's first ever medallist in the athletics event
- Bradshaw cleared 4.85m but failed to match her British record at 4.90m
- Team USA's Katie Nageotte was the only athlete to clear that mark to take gold
- Bradshaw edged onto the podium over reigning champion Katerina Stefanidi
Holly Bradshaw became Team GB's first ever Olympic medallist in the pole vault as she claimed the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games on Wednesday.
In a dramatic final where the athletes' number of faults reduced as the bar got higher, the 29-year-old got to the final three competitors but failed to equal her own British record at 4.90m.
Team USA's Katie Nageotte took the gold as she was the only athlete to reach that mark, while Russian Olympic Committee competitor Anzhelika Sidorova had to settle for second.
Holly Bradshaw became Team GB's first ever pole vault medallist by taking the bronze
The 29-year-old from Preston managed to clear 4.85m which guaranteed her on the podium
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The evening's action got off to a good start for Bradshaw as she cleared the opening height of 4.50m on her first try while pre-Games favourites Katerina Stefanidi from Greece and America's Nageotte failed up until the last attempt.
Just four athletes remained after the opening two rounds of jumps, increasing the Preston-born Briton's chance of getting on the podium.
Bradshaw's three rivals put the pressure on her by clearing the third round of jumps at 4.80 meters, but the 29-year-old lifted herself back into bronze medal position at her second attempt, ahead of reigning champion Stefanidi.
Bradshaw was unable to match her British record standard set by Team USA's Katie Nageotte
The British star then hauled herself into silver with a first-time success at 4.85m, which lifted her above Nageotte due to her first round struggles and Bradshaw was guaranteed a medal when Stefanidi crashed out at 4.90m with one red flag to her name.
Nageotte then cleared that height to move into the gold medal position which shifted Bradshaw down to bronze, which she had to settle for when she failed her three attempts at 4.90m.
Sidorova went for double or nothing by passing her final attempt at 4.90m to go for 4.95m, but a failed attempt gifted Nageotte the Olympic title, giving Team USA a third female Olympic pole vault in six Games.
