Date:28/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/28/stories/2008072850611700.htm

Sport - Athletics

Barber fails to make it

ALBI: Former long jump World champion Eunice Barber will miss the Beijing Olympics after failing to reach the 6.78 metres needed to qualify on Saturday.

The 33-year Barber fell short with a jump of 6.60m at the French athletics championships, her last chance to reach the qualifying mark.

Barber, who won the World heptathlon title in 1999 and the long jump title in 2003, underwent a cartilage transplant in her right knee nine months ago. In June, she said she planned to skip the heptathlon at Beijing to focus on the long jump.

She said she was still struggling with her jumping technique after missing months of training.

“Today I played more on the speed than on technique,” she said, but remained upbeat despite missing out on what was likely her last chance to win an Olympic gold.

“It’s OK,” she said. “There are people made for the games, others made for other things. I wasn’t an (Olympic) champion even though I would have loved to be. But that’s the way it is.” — AP