Molly Caudery with her gold medal

Image provided by Alamy.

Alumna Caudery wins “unbelievable” world title in Glasgow

Pole vault star Molly Caudery won a sensational gold medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow this weekend.

The Loughborough University alumna recorded a winning clearance of 4.80m to become Britain’s first world or Olympic pole vault champion.

In what proved to be a test of nerve between herself and New Zealander Eliza McCartney – who also trains at Loughborough under the guidance of the same coach, Scott Simpson – it was Caudery who held on to top the podium with McCartney claiming a brilliant silver.  

It’s been some period for 23-year-old Caudery, who has successfully navigated various injury troubles before showcasing her class in the sport.

Back in August, she recorded a personal best fifth-place finish at the World Championships in Budapest, following an equally impressive silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Now, as all eyes turn to the Paris Olympic Games, Caudery’s gold in Scotland will see her focus on becoming the first British woman to win an Olympic field event title for 40 years.

“It’s just unbelievable,” Caudery said following her victory.

“I don’t have words for it. I think everyone put up such a good fight today…it feels incredible.

“It was such a special moment. It's still not sunk in yet, to have done that in front of a home crowd and my family and friends - just incredible.”

Elsewhere, fellow Loughborough alumna Jessie Knight set a new British record and won bronze as part of the women’s 4x400m relay team.

Competing alongside Lina Nielsen, Laviai Nielsen, and Ama Pipi, Knight ran a strong final leg to ensure Great Britain made the podium behind eventual winners the Netherlands and the USA.

The World Athletics Indoor Championships took place in Glasgow from Friday 1 Mar 2024 – Sunday, 3 Mar 2024.

Molly Caudery was speaking to current Loughborough student Jasmine Trapnell.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 24/29

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2023 QS World University Rankings – the seventh year running – and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2023, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2024 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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