Vira Rebryk of Ukraine on her way to winning the Women's Javelin Final (© Getty Images)
Hailing from Yalta, reckoned as the European capital of throwing events, Vira Rebryk turned her World Junior silver medal from Beijing two years ago into gold as she defeated the rest of the field in the women’s Javelin Throw final.
Not only did she win, Rebryk did it with style, her second round effort 63.01m setting a new World Junior record.
Following the European Junior title she won a year ago in Hengelo, and with her new status of World Junior champion and World Junior record holder, Rebryk is now ready to return to Beijing and be a force to be reckoned with in her first Olympic appearance.
Beijing final is the goal
“I have been selected to compete in Beijing and my aim there is to be in the final,” she explained in her native Ukrainian. “I think that if I can throw the same as today I can be in the top 12.”
1.75m tall, Rebryk was also a World Youth silver medallist in Marrakech 2005 and has steadily improved since.
Discovered by her PE teacher Yaroslav Lytvynov who is now her personal coach, when she was age 12 she was invited to attend a specific sports school. And, she says, it was only after many years of very hard work that her effort started to pay off and she became a force in World age group competitions.
“Vira is just a normal girl,” says Lytvynov. “But she is just like a professional. She is a great athlete and has already had many great experiences at World level. She is very focused and very strong.”
Although Rebryk was understandably overjoyed by her performance, the coach was less surprised.
“We have a good training programme which is aimed at peaking at the Olympic Games in Beijing. This is just a stepping stone. What we want is for her to be in great shape in Beijing. I believe she can improve and throw even further there.”
Congratulated by her mother Natalia, who has made the short trip to Poland, Rebryk described her World Junior record throw as just another regular one.
“I didn’t feel anything special. It was just like the other throws,” she explained of her 63.01m effort. “But when the result came up it was heart breaking, unbelievable. Just wow!”
“At my second attempt I only followed the recommendations of my coach and it worked.” But when asked the specific advise that she was given, Rebryk was quick to respond. “It was a technical thing, it’s our secret technique and I don’t want to reveal it.”
Lucky numbers
Rebryk came into these championships as the second best thrower of the year following her national junior record win 61.64 at the University Championships in her home town Yalta, and was strongly motivated not to settle for yet another silver.
“I wanted to win and I expected to win, she explained. “But I didn’t expect the record. That was a surprise.”
Yet Rebrik revealed that she had felt some signs of what was to unfold as early as when she received her bib number, ironically number 666.
“I know 666 means the devil, but as soon as I got it I felt that it was going to be my lucky number. Also I was also looking out for javelin implement number 13 in the field because I thought it would be lucky too…”
“But no I’m not superstitious!” she is quick to conclude.
Let us see if on Tuesday 19 August, the day of the women's Javelin qualification round in Beijing she will feel as lucky!
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Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF
