 Brazilian makes historic jump
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-23 10:30
Maurren Maggi landed Brazilian women their first ever Olympic track and field medal last night as she won the long jump with a best effort of 7.04m. The 32-year-old took gold ahead of defending champion Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia (7.03m) while Nigerian Blessing Okagbare, who was only competing because Ukrainian finalist Lyudmila Blonska was thrown out for doping, was third with a best of 6.91m. Maggi delivered on her first jump and Lebedeva, who was second also in the triple jump, no jumped on her next four attempts before going agonizingly close on her final try. Earlier, Sweden's 2004 heptathlon Olympic champion Carolin Kluft failed to make the cut for the final three jumps. Kluft, 25, jumped a best of 6.49m but it was only good enough for ninth place, one place outside the competitors who contested the final three jumps. The three-time world champion, who decided not to contest the heptathlon because she wanted more time to herself, earlier failed to reach the triple jump final. Kluft admitted that she hadn't got her act together in the final. "It wasn't very good today. My run up wasn't working and I couldn't get the speed up over the board," she said. "When I don't get the speed I don't jump that far. I felt good in my body, but my technique wasn't working." Agencies (China Daily 08/23/2008 page6) |
