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Women’s 800m final: Kotlyarova flies to gold
10.08.2006
She ran her first 800m for fun two years ago, but the final in the European championships was in deadly earnest as Olga Kotlyarova (RUS) brought off the coup of the week to take gold in 1:57.38.
Hopelessly boxed in with 100m to go, Kotlyarova fought her way out, almost bringing down eventual bronze medallist, Rebecca Lyne (GBR). Ahead of her and seemingly disappearing into the distance towards the gold medal was the second fastest in the world this year, team-mate Svetlana Klyuka.
But Kotlyarova, who had been the most impressive in the qualifying rounds, was eating up the ground with her giant strides. Despite the huge gap, the five-time world relay gold medallist closed on Klyuka dramatically to snatch gold from under her nose. Behind her, Lyne was fighting her way past Brigita Langerholc (SLO) and Tetyana Petlyuk (UKR) to take bronze.
“All is done as I planned and wanted, that means to concentrate on my finish,” said Kotlyarova. “I am coming from the 400m so I have enough speed. The first half was pretty fast, but I was not the one who wanted to be in front. There was a lot of pushing from all sides, but that is 800m racing.”
From the gun, there was a battle for who would get to the break first. Langerholc and Lyne were abreast as they hit the back straight, but it was Svetlana Cherkasova (RUS) who stopped the clock at the 200m split in a speedy 27.14. Her teammate, Klyuka, then took over to take the field through to the bell in 57.37. At this stage,
Kotlyarova was boxed in and there she stayed until the 700m-mark when she was finally obliged to take drastic action.
“I don´t have long term experience with the 800m, so I am satisfied,” said Klyuka. “We tried to use a team tactic, but someone stepped on Cherkasova’s foot and she lost speed. I am really happy with silver.”
It has been a breakthrough year for Lyne. Despite winning the European Under 23 title in 2003, she has remained below the radar until this year when she won Hengelo and recorded 1:58.20 in Gateshead, England. “Bronze Medal - that sounds really good,” she said. “If somebody had told me earlier in the season that I would win
a medal here, I would have told him that he is crazy. There was a dangerous situation for me in the last curve because I was somehow boxed in on lane one.
“But luckily, in the last 100 metres I managed to get out of this. And thanks to my strong sprint finish – I have always had a fast finish – I made it on the podium.“
By Michael Butcher
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