Gateshead high jumper takes to world stage after 25-year gap

After her first child was born, she tried to get back into the sport for the first time and started competing again locally.

But then she snapped her calf muscle.

She believed it was because she “dived in” without conditioning herself properly.

A consultant at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary told her it was unlikely she would be able to high jump again so over the next five years, she coached the sport instead.

But this year, after playing football for a few months “to sharpen up”, she decided to give vaulting the bar one more try.

“I suddenly jumped a massive personal best,” she said.

“In May of this year, I found myself at the top of the world rankings for my age group out of the blue – I thought I have to do something.”

She said it inspired her to start training for the world championships, which was going “really well” and will see her go abroad for the first time in two decades.

“I never imagined it would happen, when I was younger I dreamed of the Olympics and cried at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics because I never made it – to be given a second opportunity is incredible,” she said.

“I’m really lucky and very grateful every day this body has let me come back at this age to do it all again.”

She said other people who wanted to pick sports back up should not wait until they are “fitter” or “have more time”.

“Just give it a go, tomorrow isn’t promised,” she said.

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