Tia Hellebaut clears 2.05m on her first attempt to secure high jump gold (© Getty Images)
Among the countless Beijing performances that dazzled the world over 10 sensational days of Olympic athletics was Tia Hellebaut’s shock defeat of World champion Blanka Vlasic in the women’s High Jump. The pair will meet again on Friday when the ÅF Golden League resumes at Zurich’s Weltklasse, just one of several encore performances that will light up the Letzigrund stadium infield.
Hellebaut the Jackpot spoiler?
The Belgian star and reigning European champion once again showed her big meet mettle with her victory last Saturday, beating the heavily-favoured Croatian on the count back with each clearing 2.05m. Not only did Hellebaut strike Olympic gold, she brought to an end Vlasic’s 34-meet win streak, the longest in the sport.
Now, Hellebaut can play spoiler yet again. Vlasic is one of only two athletes left in the chase for a share of the $1 Million ÅF Golden League Jackpot, and she can expect her fiercest Golden League test of the year on Friday. While the two stand out, the field boasts the top-nine from the Olympic final.
Isinbayeva’s first post-Beijing curtain call
Yelena Isinbayeva underscored her dominance in the Pole Vault with her successful Olympic title defence in Beijing, and for the second consecutive Olympic Games, raised the World record, this time to 5.05m*. Zurich will feature a podium reunion, with silver medallist Jenn Stuczynski of the USA and Russian Svetlana Feofanova, the bronze medallist, on the start list.
Here too the field is laden with talent, with the top seven from Beijing on the start list.
Thorkilsden back in action
Andreas Thorkildsen stamped his name permanently in Olympic history last week, becoming only the fourth man to defend the Javelin Throw title. And he did it with an Olympic record throw on 90.57 to break the mark set by javelin legend Jan Zelezny eight years ago in Sydney.
The Norwegian will lead a top notch field which includes World champion Tero Pitkämäki, the Beijing bronze medallist, and his Finnish teammate Tero Järvenpää, who was fourth in the Olympic final.
Currently, 14 recently minted Olympic gold medallists, and 41 total medallists, are bound for the Swiss Athletics Mecca.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
* pending the usual ratification procedures
