Isinbayeva's title up for grabs at Europeans
Source: Agencies |
July 27, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HIGH jumper Blanka Vlasic, long jumper Carolina Kluft and sprinters Dwain Chambers and Christophe Lemaitre are among the top names competing in the European Championships that begin today at Barcelona's Montjuic Stadium.
In addition, 50-year-old sprinter Merlene Ottey could make history as the oldest athlete ever to compete at the Europeans if she picked to run in Slovenia's 4x100 relay team.
The biggest name missing from the championships is Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, a two-time Olympic champion who has set 27 world records. She has been taking a break since last year's defeat at the world championships and won't defend her title.
Isinbayeva's absence means there will be a new pole vault champion. Fellow Russian Svetlana Feofanova has three victories this season, Germany's Carolin Hingst has jumped the highest this season and Ana Rogowska of Poland is looking to add the European crown to her world title.
Vlasic, a Croatian who won gold in the high jump at last year's world championships in Berlin, is one of only four women to go over 2 meters this season. Ariane Friedrich of Germany and Italy's Anonietta Di Martino have also topped the mark.
Retirement
Olympic champion Tia Hellebaut, who came out of retirement this year after becoming a mother, hasn't reached that height and is just hoping to challenge Vlasic.
"I'm not thinking about defending my title," the Belgian said. "It will be fierce competition in the final although I'm not one of the favorites."
Ottey, a naturalized Slovenian of Jamaican origin, has won 29 medals at major competitions, including seven Olympics starting with Moscow in 1980. She has clocked 11.84 seconds in the 100 meters this season. She could make her Barcelona debut in the relay heats on Saturday.
Two-time champion Marta Dominguez remains the favorite in the 5,000 meters after taking the world crown in Berlin last summer. The 34-year-old Spaniard is also a medal favorite in the 3,000 steeplechase.
Russian athletes are top contenders for middle and long-distance medals, with Anna Alminova favored in the 1,500 after returning from a three-month doping ban that followed a two-year suspension.
Kluft, once on par with Isinbayeva in popularity, won't be defending her heptathlon title. Instead the Swede is competing in the long jump after receiving a wild card entry.
On the men's side, Lemaitre is a double threat to claim Francis Obikwelu's 100 and 200 meters titles. The 20-year-old Frenchman broke the 10-second barrier in the 100 this month, the only European to run under 10 seconds this season.
In addition, 50-year-old sprinter Merlene Ottey could make history as the oldest athlete ever to compete at the Europeans if she picked to run in Slovenia's 4x100 relay team.
The biggest name missing from the championships is Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, a two-time Olympic champion who has set 27 world records. She has been taking a break since last year's defeat at the world championships and won't defend her title.
Isinbayeva's absence means there will be a new pole vault champion. Fellow Russian Svetlana Feofanova has three victories this season, Germany's Carolin Hingst has jumped the highest this season and Ana Rogowska of Poland is looking to add the European crown to her world title.
Vlasic, a Croatian who won gold in the high jump at last year's world championships in Berlin, is one of only four women to go over 2 meters this season. Ariane Friedrich of Germany and Italy's Anonietta Di Martino have also topped the mark.
Retirement
Olympic champion Tia Hellebaut, who came out of retirement this year after becoming a mother, hasn't reached that height and is just hoping to challenge Vlasic.
"I'm not thinking about defending my title," the Belgian said. "It will be fierce competition in the final although I'm not one of the favorites."
Ottey, a naturalized Slovenian of Jamaican origin, has won 29 medals at major competitions, including seven Olympics starting with Moscow in 1980. She has clocked 11.84 seconds in the 100 meters this season. She could make her Barcelona debut in the relay heats on Saturday.
Two-time champion Marta Dominguez remains the favorite in the 5,000 meters after taking the world crown in Berlin last summer. The 34-year-old Spaniard is also a medal favorite in the 3,000 steeplechase.
Russian athletes are top contenders for middle and long-distance medals, with Anna Alminova favored in the 1,500 after returning from a three-month doping ban that followed a two-year suspension.
Kluft, once on par with Isinbayeva in popularity, won't be defending her heptathlon title. Instead the Swede is competing in the long jump after receiving a wild card entry.
On the men's side, Lemaitre is a double threat to claim Francis Obikwelu's 100 and 200 meters titles. The 20-year-old Frenchman broke the 10-second barrier in the 100 this month, the only European to run under 10 seconds this season.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
