2007年VOA标准英语-Russian Athletes Go for More Gold at World Athl

By David Byrd
Osaka, Japan
28 August 2007

Russian athletes will be in the spotlight¹, Tuesday, at the World Athletics² Championships in Osaka, Japan.  As VOA's David Byrd reports, world record holder³ Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia hopes to capture another world title in the women's pole vault⁴.

Russia's gold medal winner Tatyana Lebedeva, center, is flanked by silver medal winner Lyudmila Kolchanova and bronze medal winner Tatyana Kotova at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan, 28 Aug. 2007

Two years ago, in Helsinki, Finland, Yelena Isinbayeva electrified⁵ the crowd by setting a world record on her way to the title.  The Russian has promised "something special" for Osaka and easily cleared the qualifying height.

In Helsinki, it was wet and cold.  But Isinbayeva says she has no trouble with Osaka's heat and humidity.

"The weather is good," she said.  "It is not so terrible as we can think. It is good. We [will] compete in the evening.  It is like in Athens.  It is the same."

Meanwhile, Kenya's Janet Jepkosgei will try to beat veteran Maria Mutola and top Russian runners Olga Kotlyarova and Svetlana Klyuka in the women's 800-meters race.

Jepkosgei says, after the semifinal, she felt comfortable on the track, setting a season's best time in Sunday's  semifinals.

"I feel good," she said.  "I am happy because I have made it to the final.  And, I was surprised.  I could not believe about the time.  But, I have to fight in the finals."

In other events, 2004 Olympic champion Tatyana Lebedeva and Russian compatriot Lyudmila Kolchanova will battle for the women's long jump crown.  Another Olympic champion, Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, is favored in the men's 400-meters hurdles⁶ race.

In the men's discus, two-time defending champion Virgilijus Alenka of Lithuania looks to hold off top Estonian thrower Gerd Kanter.

Also, Kenya's Ezekiel Kemboi and Brimin Kipruto hope to better their 2005 silver and bronze finishes in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase.

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 athletics   

n.运动，体育，田径运动

参考例句：

• When I was at school I was always hopeless at athletics.我上学的时候体育十分糟糕。
• Our team tied with theirs in athletics.在田径比赛中，我们队与他们队旗鼓相当。

3 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

4 vault   

n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室

参考例句：

• The vault of this cathedral is very high.这座天主教堂的拱顶非常高。
• The old patrician was buried in the family vault.这位老贵族埋在家族的墓地里。

5 electrified   

v.使电气化( electrify的过去式和过去分词 )；使兴奋

参考例句：

• The railway line was electrified in the 1950s. 这条铁路线在20世纪50年代就实现了电气化。
• The national railway system has nearly all been electrified. 全国的铁路系统几乎全部实现了电气化。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句