Barbora Spotakova at the pre-meet press conference in Rome (© Bob Ramsak)
World Javelin Throw record holder Barbora Spotakova is hoping the atmosphere of Rome's Olympic Stadium for tomorrow's Golden Gala - IAAF Diamond League will lift her performance in what has so far been an injury troubled season.
Spotakova despite an Achilles problem, is determined to fulfill her role as an IAAF Diamond League Ambassador by becoming the first overall champion in the javelin discipline when the 14-event series concludes in the event in Zurich on 19 August.
The Olympic champion who followed her Beijing Games success by producing the greatest throw of all-time of 72.28m to clinch the following month's World Athletics Final title in Stuttgart, makes no secret the Achilles injury worries her almost on a day-to-day basis.
"I just hope I don't have any problems with my Achilles," said the 28-year-old Czech who as a precautionary measure before Friday's Rome Diamond League outing has her right ankle strapped up.
"It's something that happened last year then went away and and also did the same the year before going away. Hopefully it will do so again."
>> Read the rest of the story on the IAAF Diamond League Website <<
