Roman Sebrle high jumps as he battles to regain the lead in Götzis 2005 (© Hasse Sjögren)
Czech Roman Sebrle has won during his career all possible gold medals that a Decathlete can, except for the title of World champion in Decathlon. However, he seeks to change this in Helsinki. The job is easier due to the fact that World champion Tom Pappas of USA is injured and cannot defend his title.
Nevertheless Sebrle will meet strong American competitors, as Athens runner-up Brian Clay, 25, is ahead of Sebrle at 100 metres, 110 metres Hurdles and in Discus Throw.
Sebrle, six years senior to Clay, is so much better in the Long Jump, Shot Put, Javelin Throw and at 1500 metres that without any mistakes for example in Pole Vault he will turn the battle to his advantage.
The Czech has competed this summer only once, and gained 8534 points in Götzis in May. Second was Hungarian Attila Zsivóczky with 8480 points. Clay has only competed twice this summer, 9th in Gotzis (7961) after fouling up his Long Jump, and then at the end of June when winning the title of US champion with 8506 points.
Second in the world list is Estonia’s rising star Kristjan Rahnu who improved his record to 8562 points at the beginning of July in Arles where wind conditions were very difficult. Rahnu is one of athletes tipped to fight for the bronze medal.
Bronze medallist in Paris and Athens, Dmitriy Karpov from Kazakhstan has not participated in a single competition this year because of troubling knees. If he’s alright in Helsinki, Karpov who is strong especially on the first day, is a candidate for a medal.
Russian, 2.01m tall Aleksandr Pogorelov improved his record in Götzis to 8429 points. He is an excellent sprinter, shot putter and pole vaulter, but too weak at 400 metres and 1500 metres to fight for a victory.
The World champion in 1997, 1999 and 2001, Czech Tomas Dvorak secured his participation only on his fourth attempt this season. He finished with 8015 points in the European Cup First Division in Jyväskylä.
Estonian Erki Nool is finishing his career, but along with Rahnu, Estonia can also count on 22-year-old Mikk Pahapill, who won the European Cup Super League with 8149 after clearing 2.13m in the High Jump.
Jaakko Ojaniemi will perform for the Finnish hosts. As a junior, Ojaniemi grabbed several medals in major championships but has since suffered several injuries, but has trained himself again to 8000-point-shape. In Arles he finished with 8076 points and performed in the Long Jump with a result of 8.03m, but with too much wind assisting him. Ojaniemi is expected to finish in the top eight.
The Chinese Qi Haifeng and the Jamaican Maurice Smith are hoping to join Ojaniemi in that top bracket. Haifeng holds the Chinese national record of 8290 which he set in Götzis and Smith is the holder of the Jamaican record with 8232 points which he collected this May in San Juan. German Andre Niklaus who finished with 8193 points in Ratingen must also be included in the top names.
Helsinki 2005 media team
