Pole vaulter Eliza McCartney's taking a break after her breakthrough bronze medal in Rio, but the 19-year-old Aucklander is hoping her sport will get the increased funding it needs to prosper.
McCartney credited High Performance Sport New Zealand and Athletics NZ for a great job so far at the upgraded Millennium Institute facility, but the athletics star knows more needs to be done.
Like fellow Rio medallist Valerie Adams, who bases herself in Switzerland for training, McCartney may have to weigh up athletic training facilities overseas.
"It's going to be something we have to reassess with the growing interest and even with the pole valuters we already have, it is a small space," McCartney said.
"It works well for now, but if it's going to grow we need a better facility. Something that's just more specific to pole vault.
"We've done it so far, and it is something we'll have to reassess, but hopefully I can stay here for as long as I can."
McCartney added that while the growth of the sport will require more support, she'd love to see pole vaulting flourish on the back of her success.
"It would be pretty special, there's no reason why New Zealanders wouldn't be good at it.
"I mean we've got the genes for it, I guess. You just have to be semi-tall and semi-athletic. It's nothing too specific as such, you've just got be coachable and able to learn the technique."
McCartney won't compete again until early next year.
Newshub.
