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By Nick Mulvenney
LONDON Aug 9 (Reuters) – World record holder Barbora
Spotakova successfully defended her Olympic javelin title in
dominant style on Thursday and immediately started plotting a
hat-trick in Brazil in 2016.
The Czech led the competition from her first attempt of
66.90 metres and while her night peaked with her fourth throw of
69.55, all four legal efforts were longer than anyone else in
the field could manage.
Spotakova was just the second woman to win the title at
successive Games after East Germany’s Ruth Fuchs, who claimed
gold in 1972 and 1976, and she now wants to match her coach and
compatriot Jan Zelezny’s tally.
“My coach has won it three times so I still have things to
do. I feel amazing. I am 31 years old, I have got so much
experience and I am feeling healthy,” she added.
Zelezny won the men’s javelin title at the 1992, 1996 and
2000 Olympics and still holds world record of 98.48m.
Germany’s Christina Obergfoell took silver with her opening
attempt of 65.16m before fouling her five subsequent throws. Her
compatriot Linda Stahl finished third for bronze with 64.91m.
Russia’s world champion Maria Abakumova, who took
Spotakova’s title in Daegu last year, failed to reach the final
eight after managing a best throw of just 59.34m.
Continued…
