Britain's Kelly Sotherton and Jessica Ennis' hopes for heptathlon gold at Beijing 2008 received a boost as Carolina Kluft announced that she will not be defending her Olympic title but competing in the long jump and triple jump.
The Swede has intimated for several months that she lacked the motivation to carry on her multi-event career and was looking at other options.
"Carolina hasn't said she has quit the heptathlon for good and may return at some time in the future," said the Swedish Athletics Federation spokesman, Fredrik Trahn. "She has no competitions lined up in the foreseeable future. Now she will concentrate on the long jump and triple jumps. She has lost 100% focus and spirit for the event, but I am sure she will return to it when she gets her motivation back."
The 25-year-old, who got married in Scotland last year, has lifted every major multi-events title since winning the world championship gold medal in 2003. Overall she has won three world championship golds and at the 2004 Athens Olympics she won the heptathlon by a record margin.
She missed the recent World Indoor Championships in Valencia with a hamstring injury and was expected to kickstart her summer season in Gotzis at the end of May.
