Hubbard ready for World Indoor Championships
The 29-year-old high jumper has spent the past two months tirelessly bidding to board the plane to Qatar but almost missed out after under-performing at the Aviva World Trials and UK Championships.
Despite taking gold in Sheffield, Hubbard failed to hit the qualifying mark of 1.92m for the fifth straight occasion this season and faced a race against time to do so afterwards
However, a last-ditch attempt at a meeting in Croatia alongside world indoor and outdoor champion Blanka Vlasic on February 21 saw Hubbard finally reach the height.
The Birchfield Harrier was announced in the 38-strong Aviva GB team in the coming days and admitted she won't be putting herself through the mill in Doha like she did in preparation.
"I had put pressure on myself, even though I said what will be, will be, because I wanted to get the mark," said Hubbard – who set a new personal best by hitting the 1.92m target.
"I hadn't pinned my hopes on it publicly because of the risks, but when you go through all that preparation you want to get there.
"It was always on the back-burner throughout the winter and I was delighted when I finally achieved it.
"I had left it until the last minute but I was always confident that with Blanca being there it would drag me up.
"It was all set up for her and I've never seen so many people at an event solely to watch the high jump, it was brilliant.
"There were 11,000 people there chanting for her and I've never been involved in that kind of spotlight, but it just made me want to do it more."
Aviva has been proud to have helped and supported the Aviva GB & NI junior, senior and disability teams as it prepare for all major events and championships since 1999. Visit www.aviva.co.uk/athletics for more information
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