The only thing left for Nina Kennedy to do was believe.

She had everything else covered. Kennedy was an exceptional pole vaulter, the best in the world in fact. She was fit, finely tuned and surrounded by support.

Kennedy was already a world champion, with a caveat. She had shared her gold medal with American Katie Moon at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, the pair opting against a jump-off in a touching moment of pure sportsmanship.

She still says she has no regrets over that decision, but she was equally clear that should the same situation arise in Paris, she wouldn't be sharing a single thing.

Kennedy also recently conceded that self-doubt played a part in her decision to share that gold. Could she really beat Moon with the stakes so high? Did she deserve to be on that stage? Was she worthy of the mantle of the world's best?

Twelve months on, in an Olympic final in Paris, it was time at last for her to believe.

Kennedy must have known the final would be tortuous. A logjam in qualifying meant an over-saturated field of 19 athletes and an early start to make sure they could fit everybody in.

Warm-ups began in the late afternoon sun with the Stade de France entirely empty. As Kennedy completed her run-throughs and surveyed her competition, she did so knowing this battle wouldn't be won for at least another five hours.