Steve Hooker needed only one attempt to go through to the final of the men’s pole vault at the Olympic Stadium.
The reigning champion easily cleared 5.50m to progress to the final on Day 14 as the equal-ninth qualifier.
World indoor champion Renaud Lavillenie of France and Germany’s Raphael Holzdeppe cleared 5.65m and Greece’s Konstadinos Filippidis was successful at 5.60m.
Hooker has been burdened with the yips for most of this Olympic year but there was no sign of nerves in his qualifying jump, giving a fist pump on his way down to the mat.
“I am done talking about it,” he told reporters after being asked about the yips.
“I did enough to put me through to the final, although it’s going to be a strong field.
“I am not in the position I was four years ago but I have good momentum. I know I have more in me than my season’s best (5.72).”
He has had a miserable time since winning the world title in 2009, first with injury and then with his confidence, but set his season’s best outdoors in Poland just before the Games.
The final has been increased from 12 to 14 competitors after the athletes petitioned officials because of the changeable wind conditions, Hooker said.
“We decided if we work together we would all be going to the final and saved a bit energy for Friday,” he said.
“I didn’t want to have to jump again if I didn’t have to.
“My training has been good, my body feels fantastic.”
“It was a long time out there today but it was nice just having to do one jump in such an amazing venue.”
Among the leading hopes not to qualify were Cuba’s Lazaro Borges, who snapped a pole in the first round, as well as American Jeremy Scott, Russian Sergey Kucheryanu and Ukraine’s Maksym Mazuryk.
From: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-08/hooker-through-to-pole-vault-final/4186510
