Despite having no European Championships to prepare for, an in-form Isobel Pooley is looking forward to the rest of her outdoor season.
The 21-year-old high jumper peaked at the perfect point of her season at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games to claim a silver medal and, en route, jumped a new life time best of 1.92m.
“I couldn’t really ask for more,” the Aldershot, Farnham & District athlete said, “I never dreamed of getting a personal best, I just wanted to be consistent, but at the end of the day it was a result of being competitive and staying focused that I got that height.”
Pooley went into the Games full of confidence with a consistent season, topped off with victory at the British Athletics UK Championships – ahead of Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Morgan Lake – under her belt.
Did the atmosphere live up to the 21-year-old’s expectations though? Of course. The newly crowned Commonwealth silver medallist described the crowds as “phenomenal”, the support as “unconditional” and the cheerful ambience as “infectious”.
“It was absolutely incredible so I’m really grateful to the crowd,” Pooley added, “Everyone worked really hard to make it a success and I think they got it right in the closing ceremony speech when they said it was the best Games ever, because it really was the people’s Games.”
With a wealth or European and world, junior and U23 championships behind her, the Aldershot athlete is no stranger to the international stage, but Glasgow marked Pooley’s first podium finish and, impressively, the feat came in her first senior, multi-national championship.
In recent years the 21-year-old has become accustomed to the global stage featuring in several Diamond League meets, but the Commonwealth Games emphasised a turning point in the Fayyaz Ahmed-coached athlete’s career.
“I’m starting to believe that I belong on that sort of stage which is a lovely feeling and I’ve got to hang onto that because it will set me up well as a stepping stone to the world athletics scene,” Pooley beamed.
Adding: “Controlling the stage and controlling the crowd is something I think I did really effectively in Glasgow.
“It’s given me a massive boost of confidence to enter the senior ranks of athletics.”
With a silver medal round her neck and a fresh personal best to her name, the reigning British champion is “more confident than ever” about her journey to Rio: “I’m realising that I’ve done a lot of hard work to get to this place, there’s no reason I shouldn’t jump high now.
“It’s very easy to set limits on yourself and say I’m not sure I can do this because, because, because…But if you’re not sure now, when are you going to be sure?”
As any athlete does, Pooley entrusted her physical health to her coach, Ahmed, who, in Glasgow, reaffirmed once more his coaching capabilities.
“It’s really proved to me, as if I needed any proof, how fantastic my coach is,” the 21-year-old gleamed.
“I’ve just come into the best shape of my life for exactly the right point in the year and all of my questions and all of my doubts are completely put to bed now, because I’ve gone out and proved what I can do which is what it’s all about.”
Pooley, inevitably, will be disappointed not to be competing in Zurich next week, but a fantastic opportunity to compete in the illustrious Eberstadt Hochsprung meet at the end of the month has allowed her to channel her focus and energy into another challenge.
Citing it as the most “incredible competition” that exists, Pooley will face an array of world class athletes in the three-day competition, which exclusively features high jump.
“It’s just a celebration of high jump as a wonderful event, everyone there is just the most true, hardcore high jump fan,” the Aldershot athlete explained.
“There’s a lot of celebration and speeches and you jump to music as well which is just amazing. The atmosphere is really immense so I’m hoping that will push me to another brilliant performance because it’s just a brilliant, brilliant place.”
Around one week later Pooley will travel to Croatia to compete against none other than multiple world champion – indoor and out – Blanka Vlasic, in the IAAF World Challenge on September 2.
The British jumper said: “I’ve had a lot of opportunities come my way and the fact that I didn’t get the Europeans is my own fault, I didn’t get the qualifying so I’m almost grateful that it’s so clear cut.”
