Molly Caudery fails to qualify for women’s pole vault final at Paris Olympics 2024

Britain’s Molly Caudery has been eliminated in qualification for the women’s pole vault final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Caudery, the world indoor champion who set a British record 4.92m at the event in June, failed to clear 4.55m at the Stade de France.

After exiting the event, an emotional Caudery acknowledged the crowd before being consoled by her fellow competitors.

The 24-year-old was tipped for a strong showing at the Games after a fine year where she has recorded nine personal best vaults.

She also won bronze at the European Championships in June and finished fifth at last year’s World Championships.

Former British 400m runner Katharine Merry said it is the “biggest shock” of the Olympic track and field events so far.

“Molly Caudery has gone over a height of 4.92m [this season] – 4cm higher than anyone else in the world,” Merry said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“She decided to come in at an opening height of 4.55m. In her pool nobody else entered at that height, everyone else came in at an earlier height.”

There was also disappointment for Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Holly Bradshaw, with the 32-year-old eliminated early in the event.

Television cameras showed Bradshaw on her knees in tears after failing to clear 4.40m, before being consoled by Caudery.