Olympics: Lewis aims for British record

POLE-VAULTER Steve Lewis has set his sights on going higher than any Brit has before tomorrow.

In an Olympics in which the record books have been ripped from page to page, the Light Oaks athlete is adamant he can go past the current British benchmark of 5.80m set by Nick Buckfield 10 years ago.

The 22-year-old has already come close with a jump of 5.71m this year, but he insists there would be no better setting to write his own piece of history than in the iconic Bird's Nest stadium.

He said: "I am so close to the British pole vault record, but just not quite there yet.

"I had a great opportunity at Crystal Palace last month, but it would be really special to do it in Beijing.

"I am really solid at the moment and clearing 5.40 and 5.60 really easily – which is good because I have got to keep progressing if I am going to compete in Beijing.

"They may go straight from 5.60 to 5.80, but I want to squeeze 5.70 in there just to give myself a bit of confidence.

"I will tweak a few things and hopefully I will be good enough for 5.80 in the Olympic final.

"I have been looking forward to competing at the Olympics since I was a kid

"It would be fantastic to break the British record at the Olympics – I will be going for it and if I can pull it off then that will be amazing."

Lewis burst on to the scene when he took bronze at the World Youth Championships in 2003.

And he made a splash on the senior scene with a further bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

But Lewis is the first to admit that another top-three finish in a world-class field may be a bridge too far in Beijing.

He said: "The event is so competitive at the moment with a lot of the big guys pushing the 6m barrier. I compete against them all year round in the European circuits.

"Everyone is really close and we have a great time in the competition area – but I just have to chase the top three guys Brad Walker, Evgeniy Lukyanenko and Steven Hooker.

"They are miles ahead at the moment, but it is great to have them there to aim for.

"That fourth spot is open with a 5.80 jump and hopefully it will be me filling in that spot and nobody else."

Lloyds TSB, proud first partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to 2012. Visit www.LloydsTSB.com/London2012