MOSCOW, August 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Maria Abakumova had to settle for a silver medal in the women's javelin competition at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday.
Abakumova, 22, led for most of the competition after throwing 70.78 meters, but it was world champion Barbara Spotakova from the Czech Republic who overtook the Russian with her last throw of 71.42 meters, a new European record, to clinch gold.
Germany's Christina Obergfoell finished third with a throw of 66.13 meters.