Pawlett’s distressing opening-event fall thrust her into the spotlight but it was her response that shone a light onto her potential for the future.
The Welsh athlete says she was pleased to “get over the psychological block” of having set a new high jump personal best (PB) for the first time in six years.
“It was bittersweet,” said Pawlett. “Disbelief was the first sort of emotion I felt after I fell on the hurdles.
“Jade [O’Dowda] and Kat [Johnson-Thompson] came over to me after the hurdles and sort of cocooned me from the cameras which I really appreciated.”
The Chester-born athlete added: “My first worry was my mum and dad are going to be sat around the television watching and I’m not going to be able to text them to say I’m okay.
“Hopefully the high jump showed I’m okay, it was the first time since I was 16 that I’ve had a personal best in the event.”
Despite her frustrations at having to pull out of the last two events of the competition, Pawlett says she was pleased to leave Tokyo with something to show for efforts.
“I’d have flown to Tokyo just for that high jump PB.
“If I hadn’t fallen, would I have cleared 1.80m? Would I have had that anger and desire to get something out of it? I don’t know.
“At least now I’ve proven to myself I’ve done it because taking six years to PB takes a psychological toll.
“I’ve proved to myself that I’m physically capable and can take that now.”