Sotherton tipped to top the podium by Olympic icon Jackie

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

American Joyner-Kersee, world record holder and double Olympic champion at the seven-event discipline, believes the battling Briton has the right attributes to add gold to her bronze from Athens four years ago, especially as some of her main rivals have dropped out of the running.

Swede Carolina Kluft, the Olympic, world and European champion, decided not to compete in the Beijing heptathlon, while Sotherton's British rival Jessica Ennis and Eunice Barber, of France, are both pulled out through injury.

"It seems like it is all coming together for Kelly," Joyner-Kersee said. "Unfortunately, Ennis is going to miss the Games with injury. Before that happened I thought that both were going to be in the medal counts so maybe Sotherton could take gold.

"She has great talent - the key for her is going to be staying healthy," added Joyner-Kersee, who won the heptathlon and long jump golds in Seoul in 1988 and the heptathlon again in Barcelona four years later.

Sotherton, at 31, remains one of Britain's best hopes for gold despite having not competed in a full heptathlon this year due to a series of fitness problems, including foot, back, and leg

Sotherton's main rivals, Russia's Tatyana Chernova, American Hyleas Fountain and Ukraine's Lyudmyla Blonska have all enjoyed better form in the past year but Joyner-Kersee said that may actually help Sotherton.

"You don't want to get caught in the expectations of other people," she said. "You have to make sure that you peak for the Olympic Games."