Her degree subject helps, too. “I’ve always been fast and strong, but the psychology of pole vaulting was the one thing that held me back.
Only 30 per cent of pole vaulting is the jump; 70 per cent is mental preparation. I think studying psychology has given me a better understanding of how to use tools such as visualisation to help me deal with nerves, stress and distractions.”
Perhaps as a result, 2019 turned out to be something of a breakthrough year for Dowson, with a new PB of 3.95m. “The thing that clicked for me was my understanding of what I am doing in the air,” she explained. “It’s hard to change what I’m doing mid-jump because it’s a bit of a blur at the time, but now I know how to slow the process down in my head beforehand, so the jump itself is almost automatic.”
Following a successful period of winter training, Dowson feels in good shape and is aiming even higher for 2020. “By the end of the outdoor season I want to be clearing 4.20m or 4.30m. That’s very achievable.”
