Privalova
to line up in the 400m hurdles in Monaco
Mark Butler for the IAAF
Irina Privalova has chosen one of her favourite tracks for her international début at her new event, the 400m hurdles. It was in Monaco in 1995 that Privalova set her Russian 200m record of 21.87, following a close race with Gwen Torrence. The record still stands, but Privalova no longer concentrates on sprinting. The decision was made, explained her coach Vladimir Parachuk, after the Seville World Championships when Privalova was struck down by yet another injury when trying to contest the 100m.
"Perhaps it is an easier event to win," joked Parachuk, "but also it should mean less injuries than the sprints."
Privalova, twice European Champion at 200m, first contested her new event at the Moscow Championships on July 11. She won in 54.49, "a world record début," according to Parachuk. She improved to 54.21 in the Russian Championships, good enough for sixth place on the 2000 world lists. Monaco will be only her third meeting at the discipline and her first outside of Russia.
If all goes to plan we should see her run 14 strides between the hurdles up to the fifth hurdle before changing down to 15s. It's rare for a woman to need so few strides. "We think only Pérec has done this before," said Privalova, who can lead with either leg.
We should not expect Privalova's 12 year-old son Alexei to follow in his mother's footsteps as a hurdler or sprinter. She told us in Monaco that he has taken up a sport which not the versatile Privalova certainly has never tried - Greco-Roman Wrestling!