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Ducks invade London 2012: Becky Holliday, USA, pole vault

EUGENE, OR - JUNE 24:  Becky Holliday competes in the women's pole vault final during Day Three of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 24, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon.  (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - JUNE 24: Becky Holliday competes in the women's pole vault final during Day Three of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 24, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Of all the Ducks in London for the Olympics, Becky Holliday may have the best story.

The Nevada native is older than Oregon's other Olympians at 32 years of age. A transfer from Clackamas Community College, Holliday was at Oregon from 2001-2003, where she set not only a school record, but an NCAA record at 14'8" in the West Regional and won the NCAA Championship in 2003. It looked like the start of a promising career, but Holliday struggled with injuries and inconsistency as a professional before climbing back into high level vaulting the last couple of years. Left with no team and no sponsor, Holliday worked odd jobs and borrowed money to continue training and keep her Olympic dream alive. Despite being the only unaffiliated athlete at the Olympic Trials, Holliday's work and patience paid off, as she finished second and sealed her trip to London.

Congratulations, Becky, and GO DUCKS!