Poelman rejects criticism.

Press, 29 September 1988, Page 43

Poelman rejects criticism.

NZPA Seoul New Zealand’s decathlete Simon Poelman last evening dismissed criticism from the runner John Walker that he needed more decathlon competition to prepare for the Olympics. Poelman finished the first day’s competition, which began with the sensational disqualification of the 1984 silver medallist, Jurgen Hingsen, of West Germany, in fifteenth position on 4085 points. Walker, who dropped out of the New Zealand

Olympic team because of injury and is now a commentator in Seoul for British television, said of Poelman’s sub-standard first day performance that the New Zealander appeared lethargic. “I think really he’s paying the price of not competing in a full decathlon for a whole year,” he said. “It’s very difficult to not specialise in your own event for a year. It’s going to be very difficult for him to regain his Rome form,” Walker said. In the world championships in Rome last year

Poelman, the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, scored 8296 points which was just short of his personal best 8366. However, Poelman said the sensational disqualification of Hingsen and a bout of flu leading up to the two-day event prevented him from producing his best form in yesterday’s 100 m dash, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 m race. It was not necessary to do decathlons regularly, he said. “Daley Thompson was

breaking world records and getting gold medals in the Olympics. He used to do only one decathlon a year.” Great Britain’s popular Thompson, seeking to win his third Olympic decathlon title, could lose his crown today. Half-way through the competition Christian Schenk (4470), of East Germany, is leading with Christian Plaziat (4375), of France, second ahead of Thompson (4332). Just behind Thompson is another East German, Torsten Voss, on 4299 points.