McCartney's golden day

McCartney captured the hearts of a nation with her captivating performance at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The teenager led the competition for most of the way before finally settling for the bronze medal.

She seemed sure to have a stellar future.

But she has suffered the most horrendous run of injuries, some of which were career-threatening. It's quite incredible that after all she's been through for year after year she was still out there competing in 2026.

She 's had some notable moments along the way, such as silver in the world indoor championships in 2024, also in Glasgow, and a silver medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, when she seemed to be jumping almost on one leg.

She's come back into it more consistently in recent years, meaning New Zealand has three world class pole vaulters - McCartney, Olivia McTaggart and Imogen Ayris.

McTaggart, who's been in hot form on the European circuit this year, couldn't find her best form today and left the competition early, missing three times at 4.45m. But Ayris stuck around and earned herself a bronze medal.

It was a difficult competition because of the cold, windy conditions.

There were only six competitors but there was a lot of quality there all the same.

The first big surprise was Ayris missing twice at 2.30m, which is laughable considering what a world-class pole vaulter she is. She negotiated that moment of crisis and had no more trouble until missing at 4.65m and 4.670m twice. She wasn't at her best, but a Commonwealth Games medal isn't to be sneezed at.

McCartney, meanwhile went merrily on her way. Well, she looked merry - she has an incredible ability to smile in any situation, unless that's her natural resting face.

She cleared 4.30m, 4.45m, 4.55m and 4.65m, each time at the first attempt. That was crucial because her closest challenger, world champion, Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medalllist Nina Kennedy of Australia missed once at 4.65m. That miss was always going to be telling if a countback situation was involved. Sure enough McCartney and Kennedy both missed three times at 4.70m. The gold medal went to the New Zealander because she'd had no misses to that height.

The 29-year-old was even more bouncy and approachable than usual after her event. 'It's the first time I've ever actually won anything,' she laughed. 'I can't register that. The conditions made it hard work. I was the one who came out on top today.

'I'm a bit surprised. It's such a strong women's event in the Commonwealth, I wasn't expecting to win.'

She said she felt a bit all over the place out there. 'At one point I didn't even know what height I was jumping, but I navigated it, cleared a few bars and had some fun while I was doing it.'