European Athletics – (EAA) – News – Belgian triple jumper Bolshakova eyes comeback at European indoors

A back injury ruined her Olympic dream, and she was even close to quitting, but a fresh year has brought fresh ambition for Svetlana Bolshakova.

The Russian-born Belgian triple jumper, who won bronze at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona in 2010, has her sight set on reviving her career in style.

Bolshakova, 28, failed to make the final at the Olympic Games in London, leaping a best of 13.84m in qualifying.

But she has picked up the pieces of that disappointment and will aim for the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Göteborg in March.

Bolshakova said: "In 2012, the opportunity was not on my side often and hopefully in 2013 things will be different. I am ready for it.

"My back injury is under control, I am doing strengthening exercises and even other injuries I suffered are part of the past.

"I train full-time, six days a week. Sometimes I extend and I train four hours or more, with a little break. I want to be in shape."

The type of shape that brought the greatest success of her career
in Barcelona when a jump of 14.55m in the third round brought her both bronze and improved her personal best and national record from 14.53m.

And it was so nearly silver.

Ukraine's Olha Saladukha won gold with 14.81m – but Bolshakova missed out on second by just one centimetre as Simona La Mantia, of Italy, cleared 14.56m in the opening round.

She still has to achieve the qualifying mark for Göteborg of 14.07m but being out there competing shows how much she has turned her athletics life around.

Speaking with rtbf.be/sport, she revealed: "I suffered a lot after my poor performance at the Olympic Games in London.

"I even thought about stopping, but I am happy to continue this season. Now I really hope it is a year without injury. Step by step, it gets better."

Bolshakova, who was born in Leningrad, is looking ahead to the summer too with the aim of the World Championships on home soil in Moscow.

She gained Belgian nationality in 2008 having married Belgian high jumper Stijn Stroobants two years earlier.

She said: "The Worlds in the Moscow are a goal for me. I want to get a great result in my home country."

Her first event will in Ghent on January 27.

She added: "It will be a preparation for Göteborg."

And then she will know she really is back.

 

European Athletics – (EAA) – News