Tuesday March 5, 2013
Olympic champ Lavillenie furious as mighty leap ruled out
Easy jump: Renaud Lavillenie of France clearing the bar in the pole vault final at the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg on Sunday. — AFP GOTHENBURG (Sweden): Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie won a third European indoor pole vault title on Sunday, but was furious that a mighty 6.07m attempt was ruled out over a technical hitch.
The Frenchman took gold with 6.01m before successfully clearing 6.07m on his third and final attempt which would have made him the second highest vaulter in history behind the legendary Sergei Bubka.
But officials ruled his attempt was invalid as the bar, which he had touched, did not fall despite it having bounced out of its peg-holding position.
A furious Lavillenie kicked out at the advertising hoardings and launched an angry tirade against the judges before collapsing to the floor.
After a tense few moments, the French athlete reluctantly accepted the decision and celebrated his victory, achieved ahead of German duo, Bjorn Otto, who recorded 5.76m, and Malte Mohr, 5.76m.
“This should have been an extraordinary day but I am left with an incomplete feeling. I know that I made it, I have seen the videos which show it. I am the second best performer of all time,” said Lavillenie.
“These are stupid rules. I am not mincing my words, everyone knows it. We have so many obstacles in the way these days. We have reduced the time allowed to jump, we have reduced the length of our spikes.
“It’s not the same as 20 years ago when Bubka was setting world records. I would have had no problems 20 years back when I could have gone even higher.”
Earlier, British hurdler Perri Shakes-Drayton continued to impress on the flat with a commanding winning run over 400m.
The 24-year-old, who failed by one place to make the 400m hurdles final at last year’s London Olympics, powered home in a personal best 50.85, also the fastest time in the world this year.
The men’s 800m was won by defending champion Adam Kszczot of Poland in a time of 1:48.69, with silver going to Spain’s Kevin Lopez (1:49.31) and the bronze to Briton Mukhtar Mohammed in 1:49.60.
There was an upset in the women’s 800m where, on the final lap, Ukraine’s Nataliya Lupu burst clear of strong favourite Yelena Kotulskaya of Russia, with Marina Arzamasova of Belarus in third. — AFP
- Gritty Indonesia give mighty China a huge scare
- BAM must stop rewarding mediocrity or be doomed
- Chong Wei urges team-mates to put Cup exit behind
- BAM secretary: It all depends on Kien Keat and Boon Heong now
- Yong-dae believes luckless run in world meet will end in Guangzhou
- Kingston leads, McIlroy in Wentworth woe
- Nicol David sails into quarter-finals of British Open in 35 minutes
- Clock ticking for next golden generation
- British Open: Ramy Ashour racks up 38th successive win
- Malaysia to host 2016 World Table Tennis meet
- English tries hand Rebels first win over Waratahs
- Nadal, Djokovic on semi-final collision course in Paris
- England turn to youth to take on Barbarians
- British Open: Nicol David deals with disruptions for semi spot
- Cruden, Clarke help Chiefs claim crucial Crusaders win
- European football final adds new chapter to Adidas-Puma rivalry
- Former Giro winner Di Luca tests positive for EPO
- Jockey Ahern lodges appeal against 10-year ban
- Giro stage called off after heavy snow overnight
- Ryan Palmer sizzles with 62 to seize lead at Colonial
RSS
