The 28-year-old was grateful to receive the welcome after the pressure of the Trials the previous week.
“In the final, looking back, I went in really rigid. I was focused and I was excited, but I felt like I had a job to do, which I did,” she said. “But it sucked out the joy, I think, that I have for the sport and the gratitude for all the work that I put in. I mean, this dream has been basically 10 years in the making.”
The approach, she said, “Did not serve me well.”
A mental reset was needed, and she pushed that button for Sunday’s final competition. “As soon as Sunday came around for the final, it was a new day and everybody was even at the start of the meet until the competition started,” she said.
Her second readjustment was to stop trying to control everything and just go out there and “do what I knew I can do,” she said.
“I promised myself and promised my coach and my family that I would not forfeit or waste any attempts I had in the final, and I didn’t,” she said with determination. “I jumped clean every jump until I was on that team.” Williams finally cleared 15 feet, 6 1/4 inches to finish first.
The Mental and the Physical
Williams said 80% of pole vaulting is mental, and that it is perhaps the only event in track and field with fear involved. It’s not fear of heights, however.
“I think for me personally, if I were to answer, it’s leaving the ground,” she said. “Getting yourself to leave the ground can be the most frightening part or the hardest part to get yourself to do.”
Pole vaulters have 60 seconds to complete their jumps, but Williams said the run-up and the jump itself takes about 10 seconds, so there’s time to work with.
“Sometimes that is crucial because if the winds are not good, you know, you can kind of pick your moment,” she said.