The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : Isinbayeva... on top of the world

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 26, 2004

Sport

Sport - Olympic Games

Isinbayeva... on top of the world

By S. Thyagarajan

ATHENS, AUG. 25. The athletics competition in the 28th Olympiad touched a new high with a World record and two Olympic marks on Tuesday.

In what can be portrayed in the annals of athletics history as a duel of the decade, Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva stretched her pole vault World record by one cm (4.91m) and pushed her compatriot, Svetlana Feofanova, to be content with overhauling the Olympic record of 4.60m by Stacy Dragila of the United States set in Sydney 2000.

Less than a month ago in London, Isinbayeva created the World record of 4.90m. Isinbayeva entered the fray at 4.40m but surprisingly hit the bar at 4.70m and again at 4.75m. On the contrary, Feofanova was confident and she sailed up to 4.70m without a hitch. But Isinbayeva was under tremendous pressure having erred in two attempts.

Feofanova's bad take off while attempting 4.75m upset her rhythm. To turn the heat on the opponent, Feofanovaattempted 4.85m and failed again; but Isinbayeva went over the bar gracefully. With two misses, Feofanovaa was under pressure even as Isinbayeva cleared 4.90m in the first try. And that was the defining moment for Isinbayeva when Feofanova failed for the third time and bowed out.

Assault on World record

The joy knew no bounds for Isinbayeva. The conquest was over and emotions erupted. For a moment, she broke down, but composed herself to acknowledge the approbation of the packed stands.

And then she went after her World record. She charged through the runway, secured an excellent plant for the pole, balanced the body beautifully as flipped upwards and sailed over the bar with immaculate perfection. And what a spectacle it was!

"When I reached 4.80m. I knew I would win. The World record was extra. I knew I'm capable of more, but I want to go by centimetre by centimetre," Isinbayeva said.

Isinbayeva's World record was the first in Olympics since 1996 when Michael Johnson recorded 19.32s for 200 metres at Atlanta.

Sebrle is champion

For the Czech World decathlon champion, Roman Sebrle, the gold with an Olympic record was a dream come true. A silver at Sydney hardly did justice to the quest of Sebrle regarded as a stalwart in the gruelling 10-event competition. It was not easy in coming too, what with Dmitry Karpov of Kazakhstan and Bryan Clay of U.S. challenging Sebrle in every event.

A five-metre vault and a superb 70.52m in javelin were enough for the Czech who could take the last 1500 metres with some ease. His tally of 8893 bettered the 20-year-old mark of 8847 points by Daley Thompson of Great Britain set in Los Angeles in 1984.

He has the World record too at 9026 points established in Goetzis (Austria) in 2001.

"Three weeks ago, I realised that I was in such good form that I could win here today. That made me nervous and it was a bit difficult to start competing. In the competition everything went well. I had some difficulties in pole vault, but it turned out well. In the 1500m, I wasn't thinking of points; just followed Clay to be sure of gold," Sebrle said after the event.

100m hurdles for Hayes

Victory for Johanna Hayes in the women's 100 metres hurdles was memorable. The 27-year old from Los Angeles, coached by Bob Kersee, won with an Olympic record of 12.37s, obliterating the 12.38s by Yordanka Donkova created in 1988 at Seoul.

Perdita Felicien of Canada was off the blocks first, but hit the hurdle on her eighth step, went tumbing across and in the bargain crashed against the Russian, Irinia Shevchenko on lane six upsetting her progress as well.

"It is going to take me four years for this to sink in. I need to recover from it. I made contact with the hurdle on the eighth step, and boom it was over," Perdita recalled the disastrous race.

Darling of Bahamas

Tonique Darling of Bahamas cornered the women's 400 metres gold (49.41). She is unbeaten this season and continued to maintain that form.

It was a Kenyan encore in the 3000m steeplechase with the three led by the 22-year old Ezeikel Kemboi winning the event with the season's best time of 8:05.81s.

From start to finish it was the three Kenyans — Kemboi, Kirputo and Paul Koech — who dominated the race. Actually, it was Koech who set the pace from the start and was leading the pack with Kirputo on his heels.

But Kemboi, the silver medallist in the last World championship, opened up brilliantly near the last water jump and from the bend was in full command of the race. Kirputo finished second with a time of 8:06.11, while Koech clocked 8:06.14s.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport