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2008 Beijing Olympic Preview: Women’s High Jump

Posted August 9th, 2008 at 9:00 AM by Jesse Squire

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Blanka Vlašić Women’s High Jump
The Schedule: qualifying, Thursday Aug 21; final, Saturday Aug 23
The Americans: #6 Chaunte Howard, #8 Amy Acuff, #14 Sharon Day
The Contenders: #1 Blanka Vlašic (CRO) [Pictured], #2 Yelena Slesarenko (RUS), #3 Anna Chicherova (RUS), #4 Ariane Friedrich (GER), #5 Tia Hellebaut (BEL)
The Stats: Records, 2008 List, 2007 Worlds, 2004 Olympics
The Medal Picks: T&FN - Vlašic, Slesarenko, Friedrich; SI - Vlašic, Friedrich, Slesarenko
The Story: Vlašic is probably the strongest favorite in the Olympic track & field competition. She has not lost in over a year, and has cleared 6′ 8″ (2.03m) or better twelve times this year, versus three times for the rest of the world combined (Friedrich, Chicherova and Slesarenko have each done it once).

This does not mean she cannot be beaten, but it would take a below-average day for her and a career day for someone else. Chicherova, the Russian champion, might be the one to do it. But the most likely scenario is a dogfight for silver and bronze followed by a victorious Vlašic taking shots at the World Record.