| No javelin thrower in World Championship history had ever produced a qualifying round throw beyond the winning distance in the final by another thrower, but that unenviable feat was managed in Berlin by Abakumova who qualified with 68.92, the best throw of 2009. The final began with Stoian improving her best by 2½m with 64.51, and then Nerius – at her eighth World Championship – produced the second best throw of her career, 67.30. Olympic Champion Spotaková immediately reacted with 64.94 and improved in the third round to 66.42, but could get no closer, while Abakumova overtook Stoian for bronze in round three before reaching 66.06 in the sixth. Nerius had won bronze in the three previous championships and later said she would not reconsider her decision to retire that September. Why? “Just because everything that will come now can only be less good.” After a lengthy process, it was finally confirmed in September 2018 that Abakumova had failed retests of doping samples she gave at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the 2011 World Championships. As well as a four-year ban, a separate four years’ worth of her results were deleted. Stoian became the rightful bronze medallist. |
