Brooke Stratton of Australia competes during the women's long jump qualifying round at the Rio Olympics.
LONG jump medal hope Brooke Stratton has admitted to struggling with the expectation associated with being ranked world No.3 coming into Rio.
The Australian champion scrapped through to the final after leaping 6.56m on her final jump in qualifying.
“I definitely felt the pressure knowing that everyone expects a lot of me at a championships like this,” Stratton said.
“I’ve only really had world champs last year and world indoors earlier on this year at this level.
“I just knew that I had to go out there and do what I’ve done at basically every other competition this season.”
Stratton claimed the Bronwyn Thompson’s longstanding Australian record in Perth in March when she jumped 7.05m.
Only two others, including America’s gold medal favourite Brittney Reese, jumped further in 2016.
photo galleryRio Day 10: Aussies at the 2016 Olympics
Australia's Michelle Jenneke at start in Round 1 of Women's 100m Hurdles during Athletics on Day 11 at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Phil Hillyard1 of 18
Rio Olympics Games 2016. Australian swimmers relaxing today on Copacabana beach today. They where there to cheers on Australian Open water swimmer Jarrod Poort. (L to R) Emma McKeon, Bronte Barratt, Tamsin Cook, Madison Wilson, Koti Ngawati, Blair Evans, Bronte Campbell, Belinda Hocking. RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil. Picture: Alex Coppel2 of 18
Australia's Michelle Jenneke pre race routine in Round 1 of Women's 100m Hurdles during Athletics on Day 11 at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Phil Hillyard3 of 18
Rio Olympics 2016. Tom Burton wins Gold in the Laser Sailing Picture: Alex Coppel4 of 18
Rio Olympics 2016. Tom Burton wins Gold in the Laser Sailing. Picture: Alex Coppel5 of 18
Australia's Tom Burton wins the gold medal in the Laser Men Medal Race at Marina da Gloria during day 11 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Brett Costello6 of 18
Australia's Dani Samuels in the Women's Discus Final during Athletics on Day 11 at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Phil Hillyard7 of 18
Australia’s Jason Waterhouse, Lisa Darmanin and Tom Burton pose for a portrait in front of Sugarloaf Mountain after winning the silver medal in the Nacra 17 Mixed Medal Race and Gold in the Men's Laser at Marina da Gloria during day 11 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Brett Costello8 of 18
Annette Edmondson in action during the Women's Omnium Flying Lap at the Rio Olympics 2016 track cycling at the Rio Olympic Velodrome. Picture: Adam Head9 of 18
Autralia's Ryan Gregson finished second in the Men's 1500m Round 1 during Athletics on Day 11 at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Phil Hillyard10 of 18
Usain Bolt of Jamaica in his 200m Heat during Athletics on Day 11 at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Phil Hillyard11 of 18
Australia's Tom Burton wins the gold medal in the Laser Men Medal Race at Marina da Gloria during day 11 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Brett Costello12 of 18
Annette Edmondson in action during the Women's Omnium 25km Points race at the Rio Olympics 2016 track cycling at the Rio Olympic Velodrome. Picture: Adam Head13 of 18
Matthew Glaetzer in action during the Men's Keirin Second round, where he was knocked out not making the medal rounds at the Rio Olympics 2016 track cycling at the Rio Olympic Velodrome. Picture: Adam Head14 of 18
Annette Edmondson in action during the 500m time trial in the Women's Omnium where she finished top of the table at the Rio Olympics 2016 track cycling at the Rio Olympic Velodrome. Picture: Adam Head15 of 18
Rio Olympics 2016. The Australian Swim Team having some fun on Copacobana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The swimmers turned up to Support Jarrod Poort in the Marathon Swim. Tamsin Cook, Taylor McKeown, and Madi Wilson. Picture: Alex Coppel16 of 18
Rio Olympics 2016. The Australian Swim Team having some fun on Copacobana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The swimmers turned up to Support Jarrod Poort in the Marathon Swim.Josh Beaver, James Roberts, James Magnussen and Travis Mahoney. Picture: Alex Coppel17 of 18
Rio Olympics 2016. Tom Burton wins Gold in the Laser Sailing. Tom's girlfriend Emma Knighton, mum Lynne and dad Peter [Burton]. Picture: Alex Coppel.18 of 18
![Rio Olympics 2016. Tom Burton wins Gold in the Laser Sailing. Tom's girlfriend Emma Knighton, mum Lynne and dad Peter [Burton]. Picture: Alex Coppel.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161024100102/http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/8c2e227207e30d9c4eaaa080346bff49?width=650)
![Rio Olympics 2016. Tom Burton wins Gold in the Laser Sailing. Tom's girlfriend Emma Knighton, mum Lynne and dad Peter [Burton]. Picture: Alex Coppel.](http://web.archive.org./web/20161024100102im_/http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/8c2e227207e30d9c4eaaa080346bff49?width=150)
The 26-year-old Victorian said her nerves were “something crazy” as she stood at the end of the runway for the final qualifying jump.
“It’s definitely not the best way to go about it,” Stratton said.
“I definitely felt the pressure because I came here to make the final after missing it at the world champs last year by four centimetres.
“Having that in the back of my mind made me realise I needed to jump bigger and that’s what I did.”
Stratton didn’t want to make any grand predictions ahead of the final but knows a repeat of her personal best puts her in the frame.
Stratton in action for Australia during the long jump qualifying round at the Rio Olympics.Source:Getty Images
“Obviously I’d love to make the top eight and hopefully all being well, I jump a PB. And once you jump a PB that could put me in the mix for a medal.
“I’m definitely positive and I know I can do it but I don’t like saying things and not being able to follow through with it.”
Russia’s only representative in Rio, long-jumper Darya Klishina, also qualified for the final with a leap of 6.64m.
After initially getting special dispensation because she lived and trained in the US, Klishina then had her selection revoked by the IAAF after new information came to light.
But a last-minute verdict by the Court of Arbitration for Sport has allowed her to compete.
Klishina said she felt “alone” and “stressed”.
“It is very hard being the only Russian, as normally we are a big team with big support and I am alone,” she said.
“I want the Russian team here with me. I was nervous. I had too much stress over the last week but I do not want to talk about the last week.”
Originally published as Stratton feels the heat ahead of Rio final
