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Barbora Špotáková (Czech pronunciation: [ˈbarbora ˈʃpotaːkovaː]) (born 30 June 1981 in Jablonec nad Nisou) is a Czech javelin thrower. She is the current World and Olympic champion, as well as the world record holder.
Špotáková was an All-American at the University of Minnesota[1] and won the silver medal at the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg.
Špotáková improved the Czech national record (previously 66.21 m held by herself since 2006) twice in the final of the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. She took an early lead for 66.40 m in the first attempt and secured the gold medal in the third attempt (67.07 m) before German Christina Obergföll (66.46 m). Špotáková became the seventh woman in the world reaching 67 m mark. Most importantly, she became the Olympic winner in 2008 with her last throw, 71.42 m, which then was the new European record.
At the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final on 13 September 2008, Špotáková broke the world record in the first round to win the competition with a throw of 72.28 m.
Špotáková was a heptathlete in her early career, finishing fourth at the 2000 World Junior Championships. She is currently a member of the elite ASO (Armádní sportovní oddíl, Army Sport Group) of Dukla Prague where Rudolf Černý is her coach.
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Czech Republic
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