Russian women sweep all medals in Long Jump in Osaka

MOSCOW, August 28 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Tatyana Lebedeva, along with compatriots Lyudmila Kolchanova and Tatyana Kotova, swept to victory Tuesday, taking all medals in the women's Long Jump at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan.

Lebedeva won her first World Champion's title in the Long Jump by clearing 7.03 meters (23.06 feet), adding to her two World Champion's titles in the Triple Jump she won in 2001 and 2003.

European Champion Lyudmila Kolchanova secured the silver from her compatriot Kotova by a mere two centimeters by jumping 6.92 meters (22.70 feet) in her final attempt.

Kotova failed to get her fourth straight World Championship silver medal, receiving the bronze for a leap of 6.90 meters (22.64 feet).

The new World Champion later said she was glad to win the champion's title in the Long Jump, but added that Wednesday's competition in the Triple Jump would be more important.

"Tomorrow, I have a Triple Jump qualification. And the Triple Jump is more important to me. The long jump was kind of a warm-up for the Triple Jump," she said in an interview posted on the Osaka championship's official Web site.