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Sports / Newsmaker
Kluft has 3rd heptathlon?world title?under belt
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-08-27 10:23
OSAKA, Japan - Sweden's Carolina Kluft ran, jumped and flexed her muscles
to win a record third straight world heptathlon gold medal Sunday and
dismissed talk that she was on the verge of retiring.
Carolina Kluft of Sweden reacts as she competes in the long jump event of
the women's heptathlon at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in
Osaka August 26, 2007. [AP]
The 24-year-old golden girl, unbeaten in the event since 2002, finished
with a total of 7,032 points over two hot and humid days -- breaking her
personal best of 7,001 which she set in winning her first world title in
2003.
It was also a new European record and the world's best this year.
Rejoycing in the victory, Kluft backed down on her earlier comment that
she might stop competing in the heptathlon after the Beijing Olympics, or
possibly here, to concentrate on single-sport events.
"I'll definitely continue what I'm doing. How long I'll do this? I have
no idea. As long as it's fun and as long as I have the motivation, I'll
continue with the heptathlon," she said.
"I'm just happy with my victory. It's amazing to have the personal record
and to win at the same time."
Asked about her Olympic plan, she shot back: "I'll definitely have a week
off now and I'll continue to do this season. And then I'll try to do my
plans for Beijing."
World indoor champion Lyudmila Blonska of Ukraine finished second with
6,832 points and Britain's Kelly Sotherton was third with 6,510. Another
Briton Jessica came in fourth at 6,409.
Kluft, the reigning Olympic champion is now unbeaten in 18 heptathlons
along with three five-sport pentathlons.
Her new personal best remains a far cry from the world record of 7,291
set by the late American Jackie Joyner Kersee at the 1988 Olympics, a
mark the two-time European champion has vowed not to challenge.
She ended the first day with a 4,162-4,014 lead over Blonska after the
100m hurdles, the high jump, the 200m dash and the shot put.
Kluft, a world-class long jumper in her own right, was outdone by Blonska
in the event where the 29-year-old Ukrainian produced the leap of her
life at 6.88 against 6.85 for the Swede.
But Blonska, who narrowly lost to Kluft by 6,681-6,626 points at the IAAF
Combined Events Challenge in Gotzis in May, could not close the gap in
the javelin and the 800m, the events in neither excel.
Both Blonska and Sotherton admitted Kluft, whose exuberance and
friendliness has made her popular among fellow athletes and fans, had
been a guiding light in the energy-sapping sport.
"Character matters in the multi-sport event and Carolina's performance
and results have inspired us to follow her and do as well," Blonska said.
"I will continue striving to catch up with her as Carolina is such a big
character."
Sotherton, 30, said: "The weather has been a factor here but everybody
ignored the conditions, trying to break their personal bests."
"I didn't think 7,000 (points) would be possiblle. Now, I'm proud to be
in the 7,000 event," she said. "It shows how tough it will be in the
Olympics next year."?
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