Sebrle makes athletics history by crossing the 9000 points barrier

Sebrle makes athletics history by crossing the 9000 points barrier
Ottavio Castellini 

27 May 2001 - Goetzis – Thirty-two points to write up a new historic, chapter in the history of decathlon, one of the most fascinating specialties of athletics. 32 points is the number that has placed Roman Sebrle, a young 26 ½ year old Czech, in athletics history as he is the first man to cross the mythical 9000 points barrier. It is not exaggerated to use the term ‘historic’. The barrier had slipped through the hands of Roman’s compatriot and training partner Tomas Dvorak, who, on 4 July 1999, during the European Cup in Prague stopped the score at 8994.

As the sun was setting over the Goetzis’s Moesle stadium, at the end of a brilliantly hot day, nine giants lined up for the start of the 1500 metres that would conclude the 27th edition of the IAAF Combined Events Challenge Hypo-meeting. As the reader will note from the table below, Roman at this time was 68 points from the world record. Several issues sprung to mind: Roman had never run the race in less than 4:28.00, and to set a new record, he would have to run at least 4:26.68; what’s more, the young man had developed a more muscular form (consistent with his improvements in the throws, especially javelin and discus) and this would most likely cause a loss of speed and agility.  But theory is not always correct as was demonstrated by the facts. Attila Zsivoczky, a good runner, took the lead and ran the perfect race, Roman understood he could do it, and made a long determined sprint with 250 metres to go in the shadow of his Hungarian friend. The result was 4:21.98, an enormous improvement on his personal best. The new world record was a reality, the 9000-point barrier demolished. 

I have attempted to reconstruct through the results and points the difference between the new and old world record. From this analysis obviously the scores are higher but most of all the difference is felt through situations and emotions that make these two days unforgettable. This is what the numbers have to say: 

This is the third time that this little stadium, in this small town in Austria, a few kilometres from the borders of Switzerland and Germany, has provided the setting for a world record. In the two former cases, the protagonist was one of the greatest decathletes ever, Daley Thompson of Great Britain, who has also left an indelible mark on the history of the decathlon. He was the first to make a total of 8622 points in 1980, which he bettered to 8732 in 1982. Last year, Tomas Dvorak came very close to the world leading mark with 8900, just 94 points off his record.  

Tomas Dvorak thus becomes a former world record holder during a difficult period. The back injury suffered in Formia was not an invention. On Friday he stated that he was not on top form, and thought that if all went well, he was worth 8500 points. And this is what happened. He was not prepared to pretend otherwise, and even considered withdrawing on Saturday as a recurrent knee injury returned. But Tomas is a great and tenacious athlete, and completed his two-day effort. He eventually finished third, preceded by Erki Nool. The Estonian appeared to be on good form, and until the pole vault seemed to be on the way to improving his best, even if only by a few points. After a moderate 5.30m vault, by his standards, he seemed to loose enthusiasm, and was not at his best for the last two events.   

Roman Sebrle’s world record should not let us forget a very good heptathlon, which saw the convincing and determined return of France’s Eunice Barber. Although under last year’s score by a few hundred points, her total in Goetzis - over 6700 points - represents an excellent mark in today’s current heptathlon standards. She improved over 800m, performed a good 6.81m long jump, showing promise for the 7-metre mark. With a good 1.88m high jump, she did not excel in the other disciplines, but the overall impression given is that a great athlete is back. Eunice will be training in Nice, France for the following month.  

The great Russian combined events school produced three athletes all over 6500 points, leading us to believe that the European Cup could go to no other nation.  A last note for combined events statisticians: a great 800m time by Belova (2:02.06), the second heptathlon world best after France’s Debois with 2:01.84.

Decathlon Results

1. Roman Serble (CZE) 9026 points (World record), 2. Erki Nool (EST) 8604, 3. Tomas Dvorak (CZE) 8527, 4. Lev Lobodin (RUS) 8465, 5. Attila Zsivoczky (HUN) 8173, 6. Klaus Ambrosch (AUT) 8122, 7. Zsolt Kurtosi (HUN) 8099, 8. Chiel Warners (NED) 8085, 9. Eduard Hamalainen (FIN) 8028, 10. Benjamin Jensen (NOR) 8004. 

Heptathlon Results

1. Eunice Barber (FRA) 6736pts, 2. Yelena Prokhorova (RUS) 6576, 3. Natalya Roshchupkina (RUS) 6551, 4. Irina Belova (RUS) 6528, 5. Natalya Sazanovich (BLR) 6402, 6. Karin Ertl (GER) 6136, 7. Yelena Chernyavskaya (RUS) 6130, 8. Katja Keller (GER) 6082, 9. Sonja Kesselschlager (GER)     6053, 10. Gertrud Bacher (ITA) 6030