Roman Sebrle jumps in Munich (© allsport)
Roman Sebrle of Czech Republic, the Decathlon World record holder, number one in world last year, and current IAAF World Rankings leader, confirmed today that he will compete at the Hypo meeting in Gotzis, Austria (31 May 31- 1 June), the second of the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge meets in 2003.
Sebrle’s second Decathlon will of course be in Paris at the 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics.
"I’m happy that Tom Pappas will also be there in Gotzis. It could be a nice revenge after Birmingham, where he was better. The whole winter I was sidelined by injury and illnesses, so in the end I was happy with the bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships.”
“Now I’m healthy and feeling strong. I’m looking forward to a very good result. I do not want to promise anything, you never know, it is also a question of weather and other factors. But I’m really feeling very good," said Sebrle, who at the 2001 Gotzis meet set the World record of 9026 points. He returned to Gotzis in 2002 to win with 8800, which was the world leading mark for last year.
Sebrle returned on Wednesday (14 May) from a 3 week training camp in Benalmadena, Spain.
"It was a successful stay, with nice weather. We did everything what we wanted," confirmed Sebrle, who will test his fitness over four events (110m Hurdles, Long Jump, Discus and Shot Put) on Sunday 18 May 18 in Turnov at Ludvik Danek Memorial meeting in the Czech Republic.
