Tia Hellebaut was very happy after her golden medal on the WK indoor in Valencia, although she went deep for the 800 meter of the pentathlon.

“The first world champion in Belgium, it will take some time before I realise this.” smiled Hellebaut. Such a complete day is enormously tiring. The day started strange, with all those gun problems on the 60m hordes. I think that didn’t effect me as much as others, that was my luck. High jumping went smooth, but it was a shame that only I remained in the competition because then I had to jump fast after each other. That has cost me perhaps that 2m02. In putting the shot I threw more than 13 meters, and it was also each time an improve of my personal record. Ah, the others threw excellent, and then I cannot be inferior.” thought Hellebaut.

“Jumping was exciting because I jumped first wrong. Then I jumped but carefully, and the third jump was a risk: everything or nothing. For the closed number I knew that the British Kelly Sotherton was going to do something special. She has just run a super 400 meters indoor, so she managed that 2:10.00. She went clearly. I did not have total control over myself. It was the most difficult 800 meters from my career, with much push and draw. I also no longer knew what to do. Still I remained on small distance of Sotherton. And when those last meters came, I stumbled to the finish.” Hellebaut looked back.

Marieke Van Herck