BERLIN, March 10 (AFP) - Two-time Olympic long jumpchampion Heike Drechsler admits she will draw thecurtain down on her glittering career after the 2004Olympic Games in Athens - if she can leap the qualifyingdistance.
The German sporting icon, who turns 40 in December,could not participate in the 2003 World Championships inParis due to injury, and wants to have a shot at a thirdOlympic title in the Greek capital, before hanging upher running shoes.
I have no more doubts - I will quit in 2004,''Drechsler explained to German sports agency SID. I donot want to die in the sand pit.’’
After spending over two decades at the top of worldathletics - winning Olympic long jump titles inBarcelona (1992) and Sydney (2000) - Drechsler is hopingfor a swansong in Athens.
I will do everything to have a good send-off,''added Drechsler. Everything is going according to planfor Athens.
``I am not feeling any pain at all.’’
World record holder Drechsler, whose jump of 7.37metres back in 1988 is still the world’s best, admittedthe Athens qualifying distance of 6.75 metres would notbe a foregone conclusion.
``I have to jump 6.75 metres to get to Athens and atthe moment I am far away from that,’’ confessedDrechsler.