German Jumper Ariane Friedrich Wins in Berlin
Record For Friedrich at IAAF Golden League
Jun 17, 2009
Germany's Ariane Friedrich was indeed the highlight of the opening meeting at the Olympic Stadium, which produced four world-leading performances in the German capital.
Long Standing German Record Goes
Friedrich registered the biggest upset at the meeting when she surprised the in-form reigning world champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia to win the women's High Jump competition and break Heike Henkel’s 18-year-old German record.
With the fear of making too many mistakes and losing her rhythm, Friedrich opted to pass several heights before coming into the competition at 1.93m then waited to jump again at 2.00m, prior to adjusting the bar to the winning height.
"My philosophy is that the more heights you jump the more mistakes you can commit so I always try to go as high as possible as fast as possible," she explained.
And indeed she did.
With only The German and Croatian left in the competition and the bar set at 2.03m in the late afternoon, Vlasic put some pressure on her challenger when she closely cleared the height, despite brushing the bar.
Friedrich, liking the idea of hoisting the bar to save energy took a chance when she decided to skip that height.
Friedrich Just Missed World Record
This action meant that Vlasic would be the first to attempt the new mark of 2.06m. The world champion missed and Friedrich ignited the electrifying crowd of 63,896 with a first attempt clearance that pumped her into the driver's seat and improved her personal best by three-inches.
With the Knowledge that a clearance now at 2.06m would not have been good enough to win the competition, Vlasic took two jumps at 2.09m, but failed. Friedrich also produced two very good attempts at a world record-equalling mark before starting her celebration early.
"This win is really difficult to describe. I would say it was 'wow.' I really wanted to make a statement for Berlin in two months time and also a statement for German athletics," she told reporters.
"I was really happy to jump a German record. I had never been thinking about jumping it. Heike Henkel held the record for such a long time and she is a real idol in Germany.
"Every kid knows Heike Henkel, not every kid knows Ariane Friedrich, so I am l really proud of being a little bit her successor. It will be difficult to be a full successor but that is something I will try to do."
The 25-year-old Friedrich wants to use her performance in Berlin as a personal invitation to join Vlasic in springing life back into women's high jump competition at the highest level.
"I want to try to make High Jump interesting again, to interest our kids, and make them interested not only in the High Jump but also athletics. I also want to raise the interest and enthusiasm for the World Championships."
She also added that she would not get too carried away with her victory on Sunday and warned that competition can come from anywhere from time-to-time.
"Not all eyes should be on Blanka. Each jumper has the potential to jump high. We had some good competition today. I had a great day but I’m sure there are going to be worse days," the German star said.
"The goal for the World Championships is the final, then a medal. Which medal it is going to be we will have to see then. It is just really a lot of fun to compete with her. She is getting the best out of me and that is why it is fun and I enjoy it."
