Blind pole vaulter wins bronze medal

A blind teenage pole vaulter has overcome the "jigsaw puzzle" of her disability to finally claim bronze at the Texas state high school championships in the US.

Charlotte Brown, who had artificial lenses inserted after developing cataracts as an infant only for her vision to deteriorate and leave her in a world of light and dark shades, had been denied a trip to the podium after falling short in her past two visits to the championships.

Despite improving from eighth to fourth, the 17-year-old was determined to set foot on the medal dais.

And after clearing 3.5m in her third championships in a row, Brown was finally able to climb the steps – guide dog Vador by her side.

"It took me three years to get on the podium, and I finally did it," Brown said.

"(But) this story really wasn’t about me. It was about everybody that struggles with something."

The Emory Rains student first took up pole vaulting, which is not a Paralympic sport, because she wanted to chase something "dangerous and exciting".

Counting seven steps on her left foot on her approach, Brown listens for a beeper placed on the mat to tell when to plant the pole and push up over the bar.

"If I could send a message to anybody, it's not about pole vaulting and it's not about track," she said.

"It's about finding something that makes you happy despite whatever obstacles are in your way."