Sweden's Kluft retains title

World heptathlon champion Carolina Kluft overcame injury and a dogged opponent to retain her title yesterday after an epic two-day battle with France's Eunice Barber.

The 22-year-old Swede held an 18-point advantage going into the 800 metres, the seventh and final event, and proved too strong over the two laps to secure a second world gold.

Kluft, unbeaten in the heptathlon and any multi-events competition for almost four years, finished with 6,887 points. Barber, as she did in Paris two years ago, took silver with 6,824.

"I had a tough time with injury," Kluft said. "It was hard. I didn't know how Eunice was going to run. I tried to see her all the time and tried do my best and when there was 200 left I just pushed it all the way I could."

It was the closest finish to a world heptathlon since 1993 when Jackie Joyner-Kersee overhauled German Sabine Braun in the 800 metres to take gold by 40 points.

Kluft had nursed an ankle injury throughout the competition and trailed Barber, eight years her senior, overnight by two points.

The charismatic Swede quickly turned the contest in her favour yesterday, edging ahead after a controversial long jump and maintaining a slim advantage from the javelin.

Kluft kept her composure in the 800 to overhaul a determined Barber in the final 100 metres.

"I tried a tactical race. I tried to follow (Briton's Kelly) Sotherton but then Carolina came back," Barber said. "I will get over it. I have two days until the long jump."

Barber, who will defend her individual long jump title in Helsinki, embraced her rival but the Sierra-Leone-born athlete had earlier been left fuming after the opening event on the second day.

The French team unsuccessfully protested over the legality of Kluft's opening long jump leap of 6.87 metres, which put her ahead.

"After reviewing the evidence, the IAAF's Jury of Appeal determined that the event judges had made the correct decision and the protest was dismissed," the organisers said in response to a claim that Kluft had fouled on the take-off board.