Blanka Vlašić jumping at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing
where, despite a season best of 2.01 metres, she "only" won the silver medal.
Russia's Mariya Kuchina with fewer failures won the Gold. As the photo below indicate
it was a defeat Blanka found difficult to accept.
Alas the following year in Rio at the 2016 Olympic Games fate dealt her an almost identical blow.
A season best of 1.97m (like the champion Spain's Ruth Beitia) but for Blanka the bronze medal.
2015 World Championships. Beijing.
Women's high jump final.
| 1. |
Mariya Kuchina |
KUCHINA |
RUS |
2.01 |
PB |
|
| 2. |
Blanka
|
VLASIC |
CRO |
2.01 |
SB |
|
| 3. |
Anna |
CHICHEROVA |
RUS |
2.01 |
|
|
| 4. |
Kamila |
LICWINKO |
POL |
1.99 |
|
|
| 5. |
Ruth |
BEITIA |
ESP |
1.99 |
|
|
| 6. |
Marie-Laurence |
JUNGFLIESCH
|
GER |
1.99
|
PB |
|
| 7. |
Jeanelle |
SCHEPER |
LCA |
1.92 |
|
|
| 8. |
Eleanor |
PATTERSON |
AUS |
1.92 |
|
|
Final women's high jump.
2016 Rio Olympic Games.
| 1. |
Ruth Beitia |
Spain |
1.97 |
|
| 2. |
Mirela Demireva |
Bulgaria |
1.97 |
PB |
| 3. |
Blanka Vlašić
|
Croatia |
1.97 |
SB |
| 4. |
Chaunte Lowe |
United States |
1.97 |
|
| 5. |
Alessia Trost |
Italy |
1.93 |
|
| 6. |
Levern Spencer |
Saint Lucia |
1.93 |
|
| 7. |
Sofie Skoog |
Sweden |
1.93 |
|
| 7. |
Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch |
Germany |
1.93 |
|
,
Blanka with the blanket. And a very sad face beneath the Croatian flag. Photos G. Herringshaw. ©