Britain’s gold rush sees Codery take a surprise title in Torun on Sunday after a rocky build-up.
A few months ago, Molly Cowdery wasn’t even sure if she would compete at the World Indoor Championships in Torun. After sustaining a gruesome injury at last September’s disastrous world championships in Tokyo, he spent some time in a protective boot before making a tentative return to training in the fall.
Even on the day of the world indoor final, Codery got a cold head and briefly thought he might not make it.
However, Codery not only won the title, she also cleared 4.85m of Tina Šutej and the Slovenian 4.80m as Amalie Švabikova of the Czech Republic, Imogen Iris of New Zealand and Angelica Moser of Switzerland shared the bronze with 470.
“Six weeks ago I couldn’t even get off the ground and was in a really dark place,” she said. “So to come here and do this is better than anyone can imagine. And after Paris, Tokyo and last year… it’s such a relief.”
Cowdery won the title in Glasgow 2024 – a breakthrough performance, as a result of which he gained a real name. But his build up to Torun was far from perfect.
“At 4.70m I was happy to do well,” he said. “I’ve only done two competitions and I didn’t even jump in January.”
Cowdery also noted that it was a team effort with a lot of help from her coach Scott Simpson, her family and her son-in-law, British high jump champion Joel Clark-Khan.
READ MORE. Interview by Molly Cowdery
Kodery and Schuttey had a clearance of up to 4.80m the first time, but the Slovenian failed three times at 4.85m, while Kodery cleared it on her second attempt.
“With Georgia (Hunter Bell) and Keeley (Hodgkinson) winning gold here on the same night as well, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better day. It exceeded my expectations.”
