HIGH JUMP
ON HER 21st attempt at a global title since finishing eighth in the 1998 World Junior Championships, Spain’s Ruth Beitia finally took the gold.
Clearing 1.97m after enjoying a faultless performance up to that height, the 37-yearold won on countback ahead of Bulgaria’s surprise silver medallist Mirela Demireva and Croatia’s Blanka Vlašic to become the oldest jumps champion in Olympic history.