‘Have I done too much damage?’ Holly Bradshaw questions pursuit of glory
- Pole vault medallist talks about ‘detrimental’ side of sport
- ‘I almost question, is it really worth it?’ says British athlete
The British pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw has said that winning an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo harmed her physically and mentally – and questioned whether the pursuit of glory has been worth it.
In a powerful and frank interview with Athletics Weekly, Bradshaw lifted the lid on the “detrimental” side of elite sport, saying she had gone from being a “happy-go-lucky” teenager to someone who didn’t go out, drink, or eat bad food but still had to “starve” herself to get into shape to compete.