Barbora Špotáková (; born 30 June 1981) is a former Czech track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. She is a two-time Olympic Champion and three-time World Champion, as well as the current world record holder with a throw of 72.28 m.
Career Špotáková was a heptathlete in her early career, finishing fourth at the 2000 World Junior Championships. She also won the International Combined Events Meeting in Hexham in 2000 before she went on to study in the US and specialise in Javelin throwing. In September 2004, Špotáková scored 6749 points at a women's decathlon in Talence to set a Czech record in the event.
She was an All-American during her one season at the University of Minnesota in 2001–02,Deutsch, Brian (2 July 2008), "Gophers assistant coach punches Olympic ticket" The Minnesota Daily"Spotakova Set for Olympic Games" Golden Gophers (August 10, 2016) and won the silver medal at the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg.
Špotáková improved the Czech national record (previously 66.21 m held by herself since 2006) twice in the final of the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. She took an early lead for 66.40 m in the first attempt and secured the gold medal in the third attempt (67.07 m) before German Christina Obergföll (66.46 m). Špotáková became the seventh woman in the world to reach the 67 m mark. At the 2008 Olympics, she won the gold medal, taking the lead with her last throw, 71.42 m, which set a new European record. At the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final on 13 September 2008, Špotáková broke the world record in the first round to win the competition with a throw of 72.28 m.
Until the end of the 2010 season she was coached by Rudolf Černý, who led her from a national elite level heptathlete to the World Record in the Women's Javelin. Prior to the 2011 season it was announced that Jan Železný would take over as her coach. At the end of 2010 she won the Czech Athletics Federation's annual poll for "Athlete of the year" for the fourth year in a row. Then she won it again in 2011, making it five years in a row. She won her second Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Špotáková gave birth to a son in May 2013 and did not compete at the world championships in Moscow later that year.Butcher, Michael. Bouncing back after giving birth, Spotakova surprises herself on her return. IAAF (24 September 2013). Retrieved on 18 August 2014. In 2014, she won the European Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, with a throw of 64.41 m.Ramsak, Bob. Spotakova completes her gold collection with European title. IAAF (14 August 2014). Retrieved on 19 August 2014.
Špotáková reunited with her former coach Rudolf Černý in 2015 to train for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, where she won the bronze medal with a throw of 64.80m.
On 9 September 2022 Špotáková announced her retirement from professional sport.
Personal life Špotáková was born in Jablonec nad Nisou, later she moved to Prague. Since 2014, she has been living in Unhošť.
Achievements Representing the 2000World Junior Championships Santiago, Chile 4th5689 pts (Heptathlon)2003European U23 ChampionshipsBydgoszcz, Poland6th56.65 m2004Olympic GamesAthens, Greece23rd58.20 m2005Universiadeİzmir, Turkey 1st60.73 mWorld Athletics FinalMonte Carlo, Monaco 5th61.60 m2006European Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 2nd66.12 m World Athletics FinalStuttgart, Germany 1st66.21 m 2007World ChampionshipsOsaka, Japan 1st67.07 m World Athletics FinalStuttgart, Germany 1st67.12 m 2008Olympic GamesBeijing, China 1st71.42 m World Athletics FinalStuttgart, Germany 1st72.28 m 2009World ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany 2nd66.42 mWorld Athletics FinalThessaloniki, Greece 2nd63.45 m2010European ChampionshipsBarcelona, Spain3rd65.36 m2011World ChampionshipsDaegu, South Korea 1st71.58 m2012Olympic GamesLondon, United Kingdom 1st69.55 m2014European ChampionshipsZurich, Switzerland 1st64.41 mIAAF Continental CupMarrakesh, Morocco 1st65.52 m2015World Championships Beijing, China9th60.08 m2016Olympic GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil 3rd64.80 m2017World ChampionshipsLondon, United Kingdom 1st66.76 m2019World ChampionshipsDoha, Qatar9th59.87 m2021Olympic GamesTokyo, Japan14th (q)60.52 m2022European ChampionshipsMunich, Germany 3rd60.68 m
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