| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Barbora Špotáková |
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| Competitor for Czech Republic | ||
| Women's athletics | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 2008 Beijing | Javelin throw |
| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 2007 Osaka | Javelin throw |
| Silver | 2009 Berlin | Javelin throw |
| Silver | 2011 Daegu | Javelin throw |
| European Championships | ||
| Silver | 2006 Gothenburg | Javelin throw |
| Bronze | 2010 Barcelona | Javelin throw |
Barbora Špotáková (Czech pronunciation: [ˈbarbora ˈʃpotaːkovaː]) (born 30 June 1981 in Jablonec nad Nisou) is a Czech javelin thrower. She is the current Olympic champion, as well as the world record holder.
Špotáková was an All-American at the University of Minnesota[1] and won the silver medal at the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg.
Špotáková improved the Czech national record (previously 66.21 m held by herself since 2006) twice in the final of the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. She took an early lead for 66.40 m in the first attempt and secured the gold medal in the third attempt (67.07 m) before German Christina Obergföll (66.46 m). Špotáková became the seventh woman in the world reaching 67 m mark. Most importantly, she became the Olympic winner in 2008 with her last throw, 71.42 m, which then was the new European record.
At the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final on 13 September 2008, Špotáková broke the world record in the first round to win the competition with a throw of 72.28 m.
Špotáková was a heptathlete in her early career, finishing fourth at the 2000 World Junior Championships. Špotáková also won the International Combined Events Meeting in Hexham in 2000 before she went on to study in the USA and specialise in Javelin throwing. She is currently a member of the elite ASO (Armádní sportovní oddíl, Army Sport Group) of Dukla Prague. Until the end of the 2010 season she was coached by Rudolf Černý, who led her from a national elite level heptathlete to the World Record in the Women's Javelin. Prior to the 2011 season it was announced that Jan Železný would take over as her coach.[2]
At the end of 2010 she won the Czech federation's annual poll for "Athlete of the year" for the fourth year in a row.[2]
| Year | Tournament | Venue | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | World Junior Championships | Santiago, Chile | 4th | Heptathlon 5689 points |
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 23rd | 58.20 m |
| 2005 | Universiade | İzmir, Turkey | 1st | 60.73 m |
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 5th | 61.60 m | |
| 2006 | European Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 2nd | 66.12 m PB |
| World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 1st | 66.21 m NR | |
| 2007 | World Championships | Osaka, Japan | 1st | 67.07 m NR |
| World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 1st | 67.12 m NR | |
| 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | 1st | 71.42 m ER |
| World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 1st | 72.28 m WR | |
| 2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 2nd | 66.42 m |
| World Athletics Final | Thessaloniki, Greece | 2nd | 63.45 m | |
| 2010 | European Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 3rd | 65.36 m |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 2nd | 71.58 m |
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