Holly Bradshaw facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Holly Bradshaw

Bradshaw after winning silver at the 2019 European Indoor Championships
Personal information
Birth name	Holly Bethan Bleasdale
Full name	Holly Bethan Bradshaw
Nationality	British
Born	(1991-11-02) 2 November 1991 (age 33) Preston, Lancashire, Great Britain
Residence	Euxton
Height	175 cm
Weight	66 kg (10 st 6 lb; 146 lb)
Spouse(s)	Paul Bradshaw
Sport
Country	Great Britain
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Pole Vault
Club	Blackburn Harriers
Turned pro	2010
Coached by	Scott Simpson
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	4.90m (2021) 4.87m i (2012)
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  Great Britain Olympic Games Bronze 2020 Tokyo Pole vault World Indoor Championships Bronze 2012 Istanbul Pole vault European Championships Bronze 2018 Berlin Pole vault European Indoor Championships Gold 2013 Gothenburg Pole vault Silver 2019 Glasgow Pole vault Bronze 2021 Toruń Pole vault Athletics World Cup Gold 2018 London Pole vault World Junior Championships Bronze 2010 Moncton Pole vault
Updated on October 2024.

Holly Bethan Bradshaw (born 2 November 1991) is a British athlete. She is famous for her skills in the pole vault. In this sport, athletes use a long pole to jump over a high bar.

Holly used to hold the British record for pole vaulting. She jumped 4.87 meters indoors in 2012. She also jumped 4.90 meters outdoors in 2021. Holly won a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She has also won many other medals. These include a bronze at the World Indoor Championships and a gold at the European Indoor Championships. She also won gold at the 2018 Athletics World Cup. Holly is coached by Scott Simpson. She is known as one of the best pole vaulters in the world.

Early Life and Sports Beginnings

Holly Bradshaw started gymnastics when she was six years old. She did gymnastics until she was 11. Then, she decided to try running instead. It wasn't until she was 17 that she first tried pole vaulting. This is the sport she became famous for.

Education Journey

Holly went to Parklands Languages High School in Chorley, Lancashire. Later, she studied at Runshaw College from 2008 to 2010. There, she completed her A-Levels. Holly is also studying for a degree. She is learning about Sports Exercise and Science at Manchester Met University. She studies from home so she can keep training.

Holly's Pole Vault Career

Holly Bleasdale at the 2012 London Olympics

Holly's career really began in June 2010. She broke the British Junior pole vault record. She jumped 4.35 meters. A month later, she competed at the World Junior Championships. She was expected to win gold. But she only jumped 4.15 meters. She won a bronze medal instead.

In 2011, Holly competed in the European Indoor Championships. She finished 11th. Later that year, she set a new British record. She jumped 4.70 meters. This was a big achievement for her.

In January 2012, Holly broke the British indoor record. She cleared 4.87 meters. This was one of the highest indoor jumps ever. She then won a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul.

Holly competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She made it to the final round. However, she missed her jump at 4.55 meters. This meant she couldn't win a medal. She finished in the top 8. Holly said she was disappointed. But she promised to be at her best for the Rio Olympics.

In 2013, Holly won a gold medal. This was at the 2013 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Gothenburg. She jumped 4.67 meters. She had to do a special "jump off" to win. She chose to jump again to be the clear winner.

In 2015, Holly went to the World Championships in Beijing. She jumped 4.70 meters. She finished 7th in the final.

2016 Olympic Performance

Holly competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. She jumped 4.60 meters to reach the final. In the final, she cleared 4.70 meters. She tried to jump 4.80 meters but missed. She finished in fifth place. After the Olympics, she won first place at a competition in Zurich. She jumped 4.76 meters.

2017 Season Highlights

In 2017, Holly set a new personal best outdoors. She jumped 4.81 meters in Manchester. She also competed at the World Championships in London. She finished 6th with a jump of 4.65 meters. She just missed out on a bronze medal. Holly also won the national outdoor championships that year.

2018 Achievements

Holly had a great year in 2018. She won a competition in France. She jumped 4.60 meters. She then jumped 4.70 meters in Australia. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, she finished fourth.

On 14 July 2018, Holly won her biggest outdoor title. She won at the first-ever Athletics World Cup in London. She jumped 4.75 meters. This was her best jump of the season. She then won a bronze medal at the European Championships in Berlin. She jumped 4.75 meters again.

2019 and 2020 Competitions

Holly started 2019 well. She won the indoor nationals. She jumped 4.80 meters. She then went to the World Championships in Doha, Qatar. She reached the final and finished in fourth place.

In 2020, Holly became the British champion for the sixth year in a row. This was her eighth time winning the title. She won the pole vault event at the 2020 British Athletics Championships. She jumped 4.35 meters.

2021 Olympic Medal

At the British Championships in 2021, Holly set a new British record. She jumped 4.90 meters. This record has since been broken by Molly Caudery. At the Tokyo Olympics, Holly won a bronze medal. She jumped 4.85 meters. This was a huge moment in her career.

2022 and 2024 Challenges

In 2022, Holly had bad luck at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. Her pole snapped during the competition. She had to stop competing. In 2024, Holly took part in the 2024 Summer Olympics. However, she did not make it past the first round.

International Competitions

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Notes
Representing  Great Britain /  England
2010	World Junior Championships	Moncton, Canada	3rd	4.15 m
2011	European Indoor Championships	Paris, France	11th (q)	4.45 m
	World Championships	Daegu, South Korea	–	NM
2012	World Indoor Championships	Istanbul, Turkey	3rd	4.70 m
	Olympic Games	London, United Kingdom	6th	4.45 m
2013	European Indoor Championships	Gothenburg, Sweden	1st	4.67 m
2014	World Indoor Championships	Sopot,Poland	9th	4.55 m
2015	World Championships	Beijing, China	7th	4.70 m
2016	Olympic Games	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	5th	4.70 m
2017	World Championships	London, United Kingdom	6th	4.65 m
2018	Commonwealth Games	Gold Coast, Australia	4th	4.60 m
	Athletics World Cup	London, United Kingdom	1st	4.75 m
	European Championships	Berlin, Germany	3rd	4.75 m
2019	European Indoor Championships	Glasgow, United Kingdom	2nd	4.75 m
	World Championships	Doha, Qatar	4th	4.80 m
2021	European Indoor Championships	Torun, Poland	= 3rd	4.65 m
	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	3rd	4.85 m
2023	World Championships	Budapest, Hungary	29th (q)	4.35 m
2024	European Championships	Rome, Italy	–	NM
	Olympic Games	Paris, France	28th (q)	4.20 m
(q) Indicates overall position in qualifying round

Note: Bradshaw had three failures at her opening height of 4.25m in the qualifying round at the 2011 World Championships

Note: in 2021 Bradshaw came joint third at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland with Iryna Zhuk of Belerus

Personal Life

Holly Bradshaw married her long-time boyfriend, Paul Bradshaw, in 2014.

See also

In Spanish: Holly Bradshaw para niños