A WEEK IN ATHLETICS JUNE 2013/4

In a weekly round-up, European Athletics looks at a big issue in the sport, sets the scene for the week ahead and reviews the past few days.

As the golf course beckons, Sebrle will remain the greatest

Multi-events legend Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic. (Getty Images)

When a sportsman or sportswoman retires, or is forced to quit because of injury, often the phrase 'we will never see their like again' is used.

On closer inspection, it is a perfect tribute, but in plain facts, is not always right because every generation brings about someone who often is better than the person they have succeeded.

But when the subject matter turns to Roman Sebrle, indeed sport will never see his like again.

The reason is straightforward: May 26-27, 2001.

It was during that weekend 12 years ago that the multi-eventer from the Czech Republic took track and field athletics into a new age when, at the Hypo Meeting in Gotzis, he became the first man to break 9000 points for the decathlon.

Many had tried. So many. Some had gone close. But no-one could achieve it.

And then it happened. With a combination of brilliant performances, from his 10.64 for the 100m to open his programme to the 4:21.98 to finish it, Sebrle, at the age of 26, broke the ultimate barrier when his points tally added up to 9026.

Now he is at the age of 38, and as much as he has tried, his body has told him the time is right to bow out. His retirement this week arrives in the safe knowledge that only one man can break the barrier everyone else wants to and that man was Roman Sebrle.

'You cannot stop time,' said Serble. 'It is a tough decision but I am leaving the decathlon very satisfied with my career.

'I wanted to compete in London last year but the injury was against it. My next goal is golf. I want to achieve professional level.'

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THE WEEK JUST GONE
It had been two years since the European Athletics Team Championships had taken place and the return was greeted with some magnificent performances in the four divisions, in Gateshead, Dublin, Kaunas and Banska Bystrica. And one of the most telling aspects came beforehand with the confirmation of the popularity of the event as three to four hours of action each day from Gateshead was shown in 15 countries in Asia.

THE WEEK AHEAD
Another busy one across the continent, with the European Cup Combined Events taking place in their three divisions in Tallinn, Nottwil and Ribeira Brava. There is no definite confirmation because of her injury problems, but the Super League event in Estonia could see Great Britain's Jessica Ennis-Hill finally compete for the first time since winning Olympic heptathlon gold last summer. But after the excitement in Gateshead, world class athletics is back in Britain a week later as the IAAF Diamond League resumes in Birmingham on Sunday and Sandra Perkovic, of Croatia, in the discus, and Sweden's Abebe Aregawi, in the 1500m, will be out to maintain their unbeaten records in the series.

EUROPEAN LEADERS - Decathlon/Heptathlon

Men (decathlon)
1. Pascal Behrenbruch (GER) 8514, Ratingen
2. Rico Freimuth (GER) 8488, Ratingen
3. Michael Schrader (GER) 8427, Ulm

Women (heptathlon)
1. Julia Machtig (GER) 6430, Ratingen
2. Hanna Melnychenko (UKR) 6416, K