STEVEN Lewis believes his Beijing dream was wrecked by

Olympic officials he accuses of setting the pole vault bar

incorrectly yesterday.

The 22-year-old, from Light Oaks, failed to get over 5.45m

in three attempts, but is convinced he should have cleared it

in his last jump – only for the bar to be placed too far

in.

The former City of Stoke athlete, now a member of Newham and

Essex Beagles, attempted to verify the pole's position, but was

turned away, leaving the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist

fuming.

"For the third attempt my run up was perfect and I caught it

really good and, as I was upside down, I felt the bar was

really close," said Lewis.

"As I pulled through I hit the bar and I did not understand

why. I just didn't know why I had hit it on that jump.

"As a pole vaulter you know when you have cleared a height

and I definitely had there. I asked the officials to see if the

stands were in the right place, but they were being unhelpful

and told me to go away.

"I still wanted to double check because I should have not

been in that position and I just wanted the peace of mind.

"They are always messing with the electrical stands and

sometimes they go to the wrong place.

"I looked at their records to double check the distance and,

as I looked at their writing, I saw the guy before me was at

one distance and I was at another.

"I am so angry because it is my Olympics they are messing

with."

Lewis had set his sights on going for the British record of

5.80m coming into the competition. And despite leaving Beijing

disappointed, Lewis is convinced he will clear the height

sooner rather than later.

"I was smoking in the warm up," he said. "I was clearing

5.50 easily. In my first attempt I just had to adjust the run

up and in the second attempt I got a good height on the bar,

but I went slightly to the right-hand side.

"I was still not worried. I knew everything was in my hands

and I knew I am more than capable.

"I have been hitting 5.60 regularly and I came confident I

could jump more than 5.80. It is a massive disappointment I

didn't have the opportunity to do that.

"I don't know why it happens to me all the time, that's how

I feel."

Lloyds TSB, proud first partner of the London 2012 Olympic

and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey

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