Olympics: I'm not to blame for failure, says Lewis

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."

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