Heptathlon, Women

Carolina Klüft (SWE) had won the 2003 World Championship, becoming only the third woman over 7,000 points, with Eunice Barber, a native of Sierra Leone now representing France, placing second. But the battle between the two in 2004 never occurred as Barber was injured most of the year. This left Klüft, also the 2002 European Champion, with no real competition. She placed fourth in the high hurdles, trailing the three Americans, but her 1.91 (6-3¼) high jump put her into the lead for good. She led after day one by 240 points and eventually won by over 500 points, the largest margin of victory ever in the event at the Olympics. Kelly Sotherton (GBR) moved into second place after the long jump, but Austra Skujtė (LTU) outthrew her in the javelin and held her off in the 800 to win the silver medal.