Injury-free Dyer adamant her path to Olympics begins at School Games

Posted: Thursday 3rd May 2012 | 10:28

UP-and-coming pole vaulter Clare Dyer is hoping her imminent first-hand experience of life as a London 2012 athlete will be the catalyst to launching her own Olympic career.

After being selected to represent England south west at next week's Sainsbury's School Games Dyer will grace the Olympic Stadium less than three months before her idols.

The School Games, which run from May 6-9, is the UK's biggest multi-sport event for school-age athletes and has the unique honour of being the last event in the Olympic Park ahead of this summer's showpiece event.

That the 15-year-old, a member of Team Bath, will be the last person to grace the pole vault runway ahead of the likes of double Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva adds another dimension.

But, rather than being daunted by the task Dyer is relishing her first taste - she'll be back, in the stands, for the Olympic pole-vault final - of London 2012.

"It felt great to be selected for the team and then to get to go to the Olympic Stadium and compete there is just going to be amazing," said Dyer.

"I am very lucky to get the opportunity. I'm sure I will be really nervous before the competition gets started in the stadium but when it does starts I will just be focused.

"We have got tickets for the pole vault final as well so to compete on the runway a few months ahead of people like Yelena Isinbayeva and British No.1 Holly Bleasdale is really cool.

"It will be really nice to know that I have vaulted there."

For Dyer to be looking forward to vaulting anywhere, let alone in the Olympic Stadium, is a positive as she was struck down with ankle and hip troubles earlier in the year.

As a result the 15-year-old has just one competition, albeit injury hit, under her belt heading into the School Games - the Vault Manchester in March where she jumped just 3.03m.

That leap was 49 centimetres down on her personal best but Dyer is confident she can be back to her best and more next week.

"I am hoping I am going to get a personal best at the Olympic Stadium because training has been going really well," she added.

"I am hoping to add 20cm to my personal best there, which would be great. But just to be able to compete there is really good."

The Sainsbury's 2012 School Games is being held in the Olympic Park and other venues from 6-9 May 2012 with school-aged elite athletes competing across 12 sports. Visit www.2012schoolgames.com for more information.