By Patrick Vignal
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Aug 9 - Carolina Kluft's focus
in her next heptathlon will be on more points and not so many
bananas.
"You always learn something new and (Briton) Kelly
(Sotherton) actually taught me something during this
competition, about bananas," the bubbly Swede said on Wednesday,
a day after thrilling her fans by retaining her European title
for the combined event.
"Kelly told me that bananas upset your stomach if you eat
too many of them and that's actually all I eat when I'm out
there. I'll listen to that."
The dominant 23-year-old has now won her 17 last heptathlons
but her Gothenburg success was not as easy as it seemed, the
Olympic and world champion hampered by a sore hamstring.
"It was a bit of a struggle," she told a news conference.
"During the warm up I actually felt the hamstring was worse than
I had expected.
"But then I saw that fantastic crowd. I simply could not let
them down."
Kluft, who won by over 300 points, was looking forward to
being challenged by her greatest rival, Eunice Barber, but the
Frenchwoman pulled out with injury after just two events.
HIGH STANDARDS
"That was sad but I just tried to focus on my own
competition," said Kluft, whose winning total of 6,740 points
was slightly disappointing by her own, high standards.
"I know I can beat 7,000 points again if I'm free of
injuries and that certainly is a goal of mine," added the Swede,
who set her personal best of 7,001 to win gold at the 2003 world
championships in Paris.
Asked whether the world record 7,291 points set by American
Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 1988 was on her mind, she replied: "No.
That would be putting to much pressure on myself. To concentrate
on chasing something I'm not certain to get would take the fun
away."
Her first major competition before her home crowd was all
very emotional for Kluft, who burst into tears during the
victory ceremony.
"It was the biggest moment in my athletics career," she
said. "I found it hard to go to sleep last night. I just didn't
want that day to end."
Sweden's darling will be back for more at the Ullevi stadium
in the long jump starting on Friday.
"I just can't wait," she said. "Anything that comes next is
just a great bonus. I'll go out there to have a good time."