There was a usual sight as the women celebrated their five-events in the Pentathlon at the World Indoor Championships today - a blonde star waving about a blue and yellow flag.
But this time, it was not Olympic champion Carolina Klüft, of Sweden, who was celebrating victory. She, of course, did not compete, but the triumph went to Ukraine’s Lyudmila Blonska, who led from start to finish in the competition to lift the first gold medal of her career.
She may have finished fourth in the last event, the 800m, but it was in a personal best of 2:19.62, and just behind Karin Ruckstuhl, of the Netherlands, who was third in 2:16.72. The difference was 40 points, and as Blonska led the competition by more than 100 from Ruckstuhl, the glory was hers.
She slumped to the floor after the race had been won by Sonja Kesselschlager, of Germany, in 2:14.45, until she knew her victory had been confirmed.
It had been a tough finale to a great competiton. Kesselschlager set the early pace, but Blonska held there to be one of four of the eight runners to establish a personal best for the distance.
Holding a blue hair bobble in her left hand, she clutched it like it was the gold medal. It was her way of holding in the tension before being able to swap any concern for a smile when the overall result was announced.
Blonska dashed around cuddling and kissing her rivals before the eight women lined up in a joint celebration. Even though there was only one real winner.
RL
