May
to resume jumping after birth of daughter
17 May 2002 - Florence, Italy
(AFP) -
Italy's pregnant World long jump champion Fiona May will resume her career after
she gives birth next month, she announced at an awards ceremony here on
Thursday.
May, who told journalists that the baby she was expecting was a girl, revealed she was determined to continue the career that has earned her two World titles, as well as two Olympic silver medals.
"I will return to compete," said May who began her career for her native Great Britain before marrying Italian pole vaulter Gianni Lapachino. "I miss competition and athletics is an important part of my life."
May won her first World championship gold in 1995 and followed that with bronze and silver medals in 1997 and 1999 respectively.
In Edmonton last summer, despite Russia’s Tatyana Kotova giving May a third round scare with a leap of 7.01, the Italian dominated the World final with a more consistent series. Taking the lead in the first round with a windy 6.86m, she followed with 6.97m, then ultimately secured the gold medal in the third round with a perfectly planted take off, which registered 7.02m(w) in the landing pit.
May followed with legal 6.73, 6.97 jumps in rounds four and five, with a 6.80m(w) performance in the sixth, to cap a solid demonstration of long jumping.
