Grabarz has Smith's British record firmly in sight in 2012

Posted: Monday 13th February 2012 | 11:02

ROBBIE Grabarz has his sights firmly set on a double this year - admitting it entails breaking Steve Smith's long-standing British high jump record in the Olympic final.

AIMING HIGH: Robbie Grabarz has his sights firmly set on Steve Smith's British record this summer

The 24-year-old moved to within four centimetres of equalling Smith's indoor record after jumping 2.34m - the same height that fellow Brit Germaine Mason passed to win Olympic silver in 2008 - in Germany in January.

Smith also holds the British outdoor record of 2.37m, set almost 20 years ago, but Grabarz has failed to hit those heights since and finished second at the Indoor UK Trials and Championships with a leap of 2.23m.

But with this summer's Olympics in London at the top of everyone's agenda Grabarz, who also finished second at last year's Indoor UK Championships, has bigger fish to fry.

"The first milestone I wanted to clear was 2m. When I did that I was left thinking what's next? Then I thought of the British record - and where better to do it than the Olympic final?," said Grabarz.

"I have a series of aims - the first is to qualify for London, then to get to the final. After that, I truly think anyone who reaches the final can win it."

Grabarz's optimism is admirable for a man who lost his central funding after, in his own words, a below par 2011 that saw him fail to reach the World Championships in Daegu.

Prepared to front the cost of his bid to reach the Olympics, Grabarz has been helped by the Ron Pickering Memorial Trust Fund, and he's determined to make the most of it.

"I just had to get on with it when the funding was taken away - you don't really have much other choice," he added.

"I was quite prepared to live on a credit card until after the Games so I could stay training full time. Any pressure removed from not being in the elite squad was replaced by financial worries.

"They've [the Ron Pickering Memorial Trust Fund] saved me a lot of debt so I'm very grateful. It will definitely help because I can concentrate on training and not looking for a job."