Brazilian pole vaulter Joana Costa has revealed she planned to participate at the Rio Olympics as a volunteer before securing a late berth as an athlete.

The 35-year-old, who had bought tickets to pole vault sessions at the August 5-21 Games, achieved the Olympic qualifying standard of 4.5 meters during the Brazilian championships on July 3.

The performance earned the veteran her first Olympic call-up, having narrowly missed selection for the 2008 Games in Beijing.

"I have dreamed all of my life of going to the Olympics," Costa told the Olympic News Service.

"But I was expecting to be watching here and I bought tickets for the men's and women's qualifying events in the pole vault. I had been hoping for gymnastics tickets too but couldn' t get them.

"Then I qualified. My family are going to use some of the tickets now to watch me. The rest are going to re-sale. I am so happy."

Costa began her career in gymnastics and counts Romania's Nadia Comaneci, who scored a perfect 10 at the Montreal 1976 Games, among her idols.

Despite her age, the Brazilian said she can keep improving and hopes to be in the final at the Olympic stadium on August 19.

"I think I can improve my results," Costa said. "I want to enjoy the competition but I really believe I can make it through to the final." Endit

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