The pole vaulter says the new event in Birmingham on February 15 will help generate interest in athletics ahead of the British Indoor Championships a few days later.
Molly Caudery is one of the latest athletes to sign up for the Keely Klassic in Birmingham on February 15, and the world indoor pole vaulter believes the innovative new meet is just what is needed to inject fresh interest into the sport.
AW: How do you feel about competing in the Keely Klassic?
Molly Cooder. I think it will be great for UK sport and athletics in the UK because I feel that apart from the London Diamond League and the national championships, there are no other events that international athletes come to. It’s such a fun opportunity for people to come , watch and tune in. Kelly will be there, I’ll be there, Jake Whiteman has been announced, and so has Georgia Bell. it’s going to be a really good competition for people to come and watch and enjoy.As it’s also the week before the UK indoor championships, hopefully it should get more people interested in the sport.
AW: How important is it for the Athletics to be able to build on things like Kiley’s growing profile and popularity?
Caudery. I think athletics is, I don’t want to say, a dying sport because people are still interested in it, but the Olympics are always the peak and then it can go down a little bit. So I think keeping people interested, giving them something to watch, to come and be a part of it, I’m excited to be a part of it as well and impact it in any way I can.
AW: You are now part of a group of female athletes who are extremely popular in the British team, and your profile has also risen.
Molly Cooder (Getty)
Caudery. I wouldn’t even really put myself in that group, but I guess I’m kind of creeping in. Growing up, I watched KJT and Dina and people like that on TV, and (although I don’t think) I’m pretty much on that level. I kind of become in that circle with them.
Keeley is just a massive inspiration. He’s a bit younger but he’s done a huge thing for UK athletics and athletics, winning the Olympics and sports personality of the year. That’s really exciting, and that’s it It’s very special for me to be a part of.
AW: With new events like the Keely Klassic coming to the calendar, does it feel like the athletics landscape is changing?
Caudery. Somehow there almost has to be a change. Athletics has obviously been around for a long time and as an athletics fan it’s so fun and engaging. But there are a lot of new sports like CrossFit, Hyrox and padel tenis that are coming up and they have huge crowds. : Then we have our athletics and we have a small number of people.
It feels like we’re missing something and I think people are trying to find what we’re missing and trying to make it more interesting, which is very important, without losing the history and the uniqueness of the sport, because that’s what it is. , what I love it. It’s about finding that balance, but I think it’s necessary for people to find different ways of presenting sports.
Look out for the full interview with Molly Codery in the February issue of AW magazine, out soon.
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