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Sandra Perković dolazi na 66. Hanžekovićev memorijal s olimpijskim zlatom! Sandra je na Olimpijskim igrama u Rio de Janeiru obranila naslov olimpijske pobjednice iz Londona, bacivši u jedinom ispravnom hicu finala disk do 69.21 metara.
Naša najbolja sportašica je, tako, postala tek druga atletičarka u povijesti koja je uspjela obraniti olimpijsko zlato u bacanju diska. Njemica Evelin Jahl pobijedila je 1976. u Montrealu i četiri godine kasnije u Moskvi.
“Pogađala sam mrežu kao Ronaldo, no srećom ušao je hitac u trećoj seriji nakon kojeg sam znala da je sve gotovo. Jedan hitac za plasman u finale, jedan hitac za zlato – to stvarno nisam planirala. Kad sam prvi puta bacila u mrežu, nije bilo panike, znala sam da mogu daleko i znala sam koliko vrijedim. Drugi prijestup me iznenadio, no opet nije bilo treme ili straha. Rekla sam sama sebi ‘Sandra, nikad nisi bila odmornija, spremnija i iskusnija, pa ne možeš odavde otići s tri neispravna hica’. Najgore što ništa nisam radila pogrešno, sve je bio automatizam”, rekla je Sandra nakon finala.
Tri hica dijele @PerkovicSandra od zlata! #HRTolimp #HRio https://t.co/ZXZXih9Joz
— HRT Sport (@HRTsport) August 16, 2016
Sandra je i u jučerašnjim kvalifikacijama imala sličnu dramu jer je jedini ispravni hitac bacila tek u zadnjoj seriji.
“Sinoć je bila kiša, mokar krug i to se događa. Ali tu ne mogu objasniti prva dva prijestupa. Krug mi nikad nije bolji, otvorena mreža najšira dosad. Nakon kvalifikacija me malo boljelo rame i napravila sam žulj na desnoj nozi, no očekivala sam da će biti više problema zbog finala rano ujutro nakon kasnonoćnih kvalifikacija. Probudila sam se oko 7.30, ali mi je glava bila čista. I da, oprosti mama, još jednom što sam te iznervirala”, kaže dvostruka olimpijska pobjednica.
Osim Sandre, na Hanžeku ćemo 6. rujna vidjeti i osvajačicu srebrne medalje, Francuskinju Melinu Robert-Michon. Ona je bacila disk 66.73 i bila bolja od svjetske prvakinje Denie Caballero koja je sa 65.34 uzela broncu.Sandra Perković is coming to the 66th Hanžeković Memorial with another Olympic gold medal! At the Rio Olympics, Sandra defended her Olympic title from London, throwing her discus 69.21m in the only legal throw.
Croatia’s best female athlete has become the second female athlete ever who defended the Olympic discus throw gold medal. Germany’s Evelin Jahl won at Montreal 1976 and at Moscow four years later.
„I was hitting the net like Ronaldo, but luckily, the third throw was legal, after which I knew it was all over. One throw to advance to the final, another one to win gold – I really hadn’t planned that. When I hit the net the first time, I didn’t panic, I knew how far I could throw and I knew how good I was. The second foul surprised me, but there was no stage fright or fear either. I said to myself: ‘Sandra, you have never been more rested, prepared and experienced before, so you cannot leave here with three illegal throws’. The worst thing is that I wasn’t doing anything wrong, it was all automatic“, Sandra said after the final.
Sandra had a similar drama in the qualifications the day earlier, when her only legal throw was the one in round three.
„It was raining yesterday, the circle was wet, it happens. But I cannot explain the first two fouls. The circle had never been better, the cage open wider than ever. My shoulder hurt a bit after the qualifications, and I got a blister on my right foot, but I expected more problems early in the morning after the qualifications late at night. I woke up around 7:30 but my head was clear. And yes, sorry Mom for making you nervous“ the two-time Olympic Champion said.
Besides Sandra, we will also see the silver medallist, France’s Melina Robert-Michon, at Hanžek on 6 September. She threw the discus 66.73 metres and bested World Champion Denie Caballero, who won bronze with a throw of 65.34 metres.