Uy back in action soon

MANILA, Philippines — Filipina-American pole vault ace Natalie Uy is nearing full recovery from her aggravated wrist injury and looking forward to stepping up preparations for the Olympics qualifiers.

“Injury is better. I’m almost fully training now,” she told The STAR yesterday, adding she’s to get a doctor’s clearance for full practice.

The 26-year-old star initially suffered a cut on her left hand last August before sustaining a fractured wrist early this month.

Still, Uy remains upbeat that she can regain top condition and reach peak form in time for the gradual resumption of around 20 Summer Games pole vault qualifying events left amid the pandemic.

With an added fuel from setting a national record of 4.30 meters in North Carolina last July, Uy aims at the Olympic standard 4.70-meter tally or make it inside the world’s Top 32 rankings to book a ticket to Tokyo.

She is currently training with former Olympian-turned-coach Brad Walker and world No. 5 Katie Nageotte in Atlanta for a bid to join EJ Obiena in the track and field competitions in the Tokyo Games.