Daniela Bartova fails to win medal

Sport, of course, and yet more disappointment for the Czech team in Sydney as yet another medal hopeful fails to deliver the goods. The women's pole vaulter Daniela Bartova finished a disappointing fourth with a best vault of 4.50 metres. The American Stacy Dragila took the gold with a jump of 4.60 with Tatiana Grigorieva of Australia and Vala Flosadottir of Iceland finishing with the bronze and silver.

Not all doom and gloom, though. Martin Doktor came through his canoeing heat easily enough, and goes into Saturday's final in good shape to defend the gold medal he won in Atlanta four years ago.

However, with only 2 golds, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals so far, it's going to be difficult for the Czech team to better their performance in Atlanta in '96. Czech Radio's man in Sydney is Miroslav Konvalina and I spoke to him on the line a little earlier: Miroslav Konvalina there on the line from Sydney. Let's not forget, however, that Tomas Dvorak in the Decathlon is still to come.