‘Heartbroken’ Team GB star Molly Caudery breaks down in tears after shock Olympics 2024 exit
TEAM GB star Molly Caudery was left devastated after failing to qualify for the pole vault final.
The 24-year-old was a huge medal hope for Great Britain going into this summer’s Olympic Games having established herself as No1 in the world.
However, she failed to clear 4.55m at the Stade de France in what has been described as the “biggest shock” of the track and field events so far.
Caudery broke down in tears following her final attempt while acknowledging the crowd from the mat.
She then told BBC Sport: “It’s totally heartbreaking. Not the Olympic experience I was hoping for and I am so sorry for everyone back home.
“I wish I could have done better, but I am going to try learn from this and I will take everything I can from it.
“I felt great, the best shape of my life. I didn’t feel too nervous I love a big crowd.
“I don’t know why, but it wasn’t my day and I’ll use this as an experience to learn from it and to try move on.
“Thank you to everyone for their support.”
Caudery set a British record of 4.92m in June and is the reigning World Indoor Athletics pole vault champion.
Former Team GB 400m runner Katharine Merry described her exit as one of the “biggest shocks” of the games.
She told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Nobody is going to believe this. This is the biggest shock in the track and field of this Olympics.
“Molly Caudery has gone over a height of 4.92m [this season] – 4cm higher than anyone else in the world.
“She decided to come in at a opening height of 4.55m. In her pool nobody else entered at that height, everyone else came in at an earlier height.”
Holly Bradshaw also failed to qualify for the final after falling on her third attempt.
While both appeared inconsolable, it was all smiles for Amber Anning, who won her 400m heat in a comfortable 49.68.
But Victoria Ohuruogu will have to progress through the reprchage after finishing fourth in her heat.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Keely Hodgkinson is among the favourites to win gold in the women’s 800m final (8.45pm), three years on from silver in Tokyo.
Kimberley Woods, Mallory Franklin and Joe Clarke could secure a triple-header in the maiden Olympic kayak cross finals (3.55pm).
GB will hope to retain their triathlon mixed relay (7am) and the women’s cycling team sprint (6.55pm) offers a real medal chance on the opening day in the velodrome.
BRITS TO WATCH
The sport climbing gets underway with four Brits – Hamish McArthur and 19-year-old sensation Toby Roberts starting with their bouldering in the boulder and lead event (9am).
And the women’s hockey team face a nightmare quarter-final against the all-conquering Dutch (4.30pm).
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis will try and break his own latest world record once again in the men’s paul vault final (6pm).
The men’s football reaches the semi-finals with hosts France facing Egypt (8pm) after Spain vs Morocco (5pm).
And this will be the last we see of Simone Biles in Paris. She is set to go in the women’s balance beam (11.30am) and floor finals (1.20pm).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
It is the final day for both the 3×3 basketball and the surfing.
The 3×3 basketball finishes with the gold medal matches from 9pm at La Concorde.
Over in Tahiti, Gabriel Medina appeared to defy gravity with THAT incredible levitating photo and has a shot at gold today.
STATS MAD
0 – A rule change to the artistic swimming (formerly synchronised swimming) means men are now able to compete in the team event for the first time in Olympics history… but the new legislation only came in 18 months and precisely ZERO males were selected.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.