Throughout the competition, Nafissatou Thiam, the 28-year-old double Olympic, world, and European champion, and Sulek were neck and neck.
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Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam has made history at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Istanbul by breaking the pentathlon world record with an impressive total of 5,055 points. She faced a tough challenge from Poland’s Adrianna Sulek, who also surpassed the previous world record of 5,013 points set by Ukraine’s Nataliya Dobrynska in 2012, achieving a score of 5,014 points. Throughout the competition, Thiam, a 28-year-old double Olympic, world, and European champion, and Sulek were neck and neck, but Thiam ultimately prevailed with a final sprint to reduce her personal best to 2:13.60.
Sulek achieved personal bests in four events and equaled her best in another. Her ferocious front-running effort over the final two laps of the concluding 800 meters made it seem as if she might have a chance to overtake Thiam. However, the defending champion responded to the challenge, proving that she is still at the top of her game, even in her first contest of the season. Meanwhile, Nafissatou Thiam‘s compatriot Noor Vidts won the bronze medal with a score of 4,823 points, despite recently recovering from a viral illness.
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Thiam started strong by equaling her 60m hurdles personal best of 8.23, before becoming the only high jumper to clear 1.92m. A personal best of 15.54m in the shot put gave her a lead of 144 points going into the evening session. Her closest rival, Eliska Sulek from the Czech Republic, established personal bests in the 60m hurdles and shot put, and equaled her best in the high jump.
Although Sulek managed to lessen Thiam’s lead in the long jump, the Belgian athlete’s third-round effort of 6.59m minimized the difference. Thiam dominated by 134 points going into the 800m, aiming to break the world record of 5013 points achieved by Nataliya Dobrynska in 2012. Despite falling short of the mark, Thiam’s total of 4870 points was enough to secure the gold medal and break the world record.
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Nataliya Dobrynska was present during the occasion to witness her world record being broken. In an interview with European Athletics, she stated, “I had a feeling that my record would be broken today. That’s why I’m here. But two athletes! And it’s fine. I am very happy about this because my record lasted for 11 years. The sport has moved on and fantastic athletes have made great results.”
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