TNT Sports
Hepp-tastic!
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Published 07/08/2005 at 20:28 GMT+1
Even with an ankle injury, sustained on the eve of the World Championships, Carolina Kluft proved to be a cut above her rivals to retain her Heptathlon title in Helsinki on Sunday. The Swede left it to the last event, the 800 metres and the final straight
Eurosport
Image credit: TNT Sports
Kluft held an 18-point advantage over France's Barber going into the final event on the second day of competition.
Barber needed to beat the Swede by 1.5 seconds to secure the gold medal in the 800 metres, but tired with 150 metres left to race with Kluft overtaking on her right shoulder.
Britain's Kelly Sotherton finished in first place in a time of two minutes 7.96 seconds, with 22-year-old Kluft five yards behind to seal the gold medal and a total points tally of 6,887 points.
As she did in Paris two years ago, Barber took the silver medal with 6,824 points and was left to wonder how another championship title went the way of the Olympic champion.
Ghanaian Margaret Simpson won the bronze medal with 6375 points.
It was the closest finish to a world heptathlon since 1993 when Jackie Joyner-Kersee overhauled German Sabine Braun in the 800 metres to take gold by 40 points.
"I had a tough time with injury," 22-year-old Kluft said afterwards.
"I've had many new experiences. It was hard. I didn't know how Eunice was going to run. I tried to see her all the time and tried do my best and when there was 200 left I just pushed it all the way I could."
Having led Kluft by two points overnight, Barber found herself immediately under pressure as she fell behind in a controversial long jump.
The French team unsuccessfully protested over the legality of Kluft's opening jump leap of 6.87 metres, which put her ahead.
"After reviewing the evidence, the IAAF's Jury of Appeal determined that the event judges had made the correct decision and the protest was dismissed," the organisers said in response to a claim that Kluft had fouled on the take-off board.
"Everyone has the right to protest," Kluft said. "I would have done the same if I thought something was wrong."
Barber, the 1999 world champion, clearly thought Kluft had fouled.
"Everybody saw it, but I don't mind," she said.
Kluft maintained a slim advantage after the javelin and the stage was set for the final discipline.
Kluft kept her composure in the 800 metres surging from behind towards the end leaving Barber in fourth place.
"I tried a tactical race. I tried to follow Sotherton but then Carolina came back," Barber said. "I will get over it. I have two days until the long jump."
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