20th March 2013 08:13
Russian Abakumova won the javelin at the European Cup Winter Throwing with a superb last-round effort of 69.34m. It was the best in the world this year and if she needed reminding of her outstanding ability, here was the proof.
As defending champion, the pressure will be on at the World Championships in Moscow in August to deliver again in her home country.
But she has revealed the mental battle she has been going through since the Olympic Games in London - where she was only 10th with a throw of 59m - and how she thought about changing her world completely.
In Castellon she beat Vira Rebryk, Ukraine's European champion, who was second with 63.42m with Olympic bronze medallist, Linda Stahl, of Germany, third with 61.97m - and the strength of the competition proved an inspiration to the Russian.
Reflecting on her triumph, Abakumova said: 'These strong opponents provoked me to such a good performance.
'In London, everything seemed in order. But it became a disappointment and shock. I was so devastated.'
Speaking with rusathletics.com, she said: 'I was absolutely exhausted after London. I even pondered maybe it’s my time to become a mother.
'I was one step (away) to finish my sports career and to be honest I am still in athletics mostly thanks to my husband.'
He is javelin thrower Dmitriy Tarabin and Abakumova, 27, added: 'Now I know that Dmitriy means for me much more than just my husband. He is my real friend, adviser, my training partner. He is dearer than any medal or title. He is my gold.'
Now coached by Estonian Heino Puuste, who won silver for the USSR at the European Athletics Championships in 1982 in Athens, Abakumova arrived at the biggest throwing event of the winter last weekend knowing the importance of what was ahead.
Close to 11am, she launched her first throw which was only 57.95m. She composed herself and then, barring a fourth-round foul, delivered a programme which was just the foundation she was looking for. Her next round brought 65.58m, then 66,33m, her fifth throw was 64.75m and then came her brilliant 69.34m, breaking the championship record by 3.38 metres.
'I really needed a result, which showed in Castellon,' said Abakumova. 'The last six months that have passed since the Olympics were terribly hard. I did not want to go to training, I delayed the depression, the absolute mental and physical lethargy.'
But now she is back, and life in her athletics world is good again.