Grabarz grabs share in high jump bronze (From Ledbury Reporter)

Grabarz grabs share in high jump bronze

9:03pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2013

Robbie Grabarz completed a remarkable rise by taking a share of the Olympic bronze medal in the high jump on Tuesday night.

The 24-year-old had first-time clearances up to 2.29 metres before three failures at 2.33m sent him out of the competition. Canadian Derek Drouin and Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim had exactly the same record to share third place with the Briton.

Ivan Yukhov took the gold medal as the only man to clear 2.36m and 2.38m - it was the Russian's first major outdoor title. American Erik Kynard took the silver with a 2.33 clearance, with compatriot Jesse Williams, the world champion, finishing back in joint ninth.

Grabarz finished 2011 ranked 28th in the world and saw his Lottery funding removed for failing to meet performance targets. He even considered quitting athletics last year to restore classic cars for a living before a few harsh words from coach Fuzz Ahmed turned his career around.

Meanwhile, Shara Proctor made swift work of qualifying for the final of the long jump at the Olympic Stadium.

The Anguilla-born athlete leapt out to 6.83 metres with her first attempt of the night to secure automatic qualification.

The 23-year-old British record holder was pleased with her impressive showing and said: "This is a dream come true. All I wanted to do was make it to the final, that was the hardest part.

"I did it, now I have to go back tomorrow, jump far and get a medal. I feel like I am in good shape. I want to go for seven metres, but I am not going after distance, I am just trying to get a medal and whatever it takes to get a medal, that's what I have to do.

"There is definitely more to come. I am ready to go and get a medal."