Olympic javelin: Spotakova wins gold, retains title

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Barbora Spotakova of Czech Republic competes in the Women

London, Aug 10 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Czech javelin thrower Barbora Spotakova retained her Olympic title Thursday, throwing more than four metres further than her closest rival.

Spotakova hurled her javelin 69.55 metres to take gold with a season best throw, although she failed to trouble her own world record of 72.28.

Silver went to Beijing bronze medalist Christina Obergfoll with a throw of 65.18 metres on her first attempt.

The German fouled all of her five other throws and was visibly frustrated.

Bronze also went to Germany, with Linda Stahl throwing 64.91 metres, a season best.

Russia’s Maria Abakumova, the reigning world champion and Spotakova’s closest challenger at the last Olympics, had been tipped to challenge for gold but found herself eliminated halfway through the final after throwing just 59.34.