The women's high jump has no lack of star quality, as the field is diverse, talented and exciting. Croatian Blanka Vlaic is the reigning world champion, Olympic silver medalist, and best overall high jumper in the world. But Vlaic has been perhaps just as well known for her pressure cooker collapses than for her amazing 40+ meet string of 2.00m or higher clearances.
The most dangerous of her rivals is German Ariane Friedrich (pictured right), who stole any chance Vlaic had at the 2009 Golden League jackpot with a win in front of a packed stadium in Berlin back in June. Friedrich has the world-leading jump at 2.06m this year and took some tantalizingly close attempts at the world record of 2.09m in Berlin.
Belgian Olympic Champion Tia Hellebaut announced both her pregnancy and retirement from the sport back in 2008. She retired as one of the world's greatest-ever high jumpers.
The Russians will send three enormously capable jumpers, including Elena Slesarenko (2.06m PR) and Anna Chicherova (silver medal in Osaka WCs).
And the list doesn't stop there. Italian Antonietta DiMartino is a 2.01m jumper, as is Spaniard Ruth Beitia.
American Chaunté Howard won silver in this event in 2005, while Amy Acuff is a legend of the sport. They'll be joined by Sharon Day.
Acuff's story is incredible. Just one of her many impressive feats - 2009 will be her 8th consecutive World Championships appearance for the US: 1995, '97, '99, 2001, '03, '05, '07 and '09. Talk about an amazing streak and an amazing career.
LRC Predictions: Gold: Blanka Vlaic CRO Silver: Antonietta DiMartino ITA Bronze: Ariane Friedrich GER 4th: Anna Chicherova RUS
Women's High Jump Statistics By LRC Coaching Guru John Kellogg
2.06 Ariane Friedrich (GER) (= #6 all-time) 7th in 2008 Olympic Games, 8th in 2008 World Indoor Championships
2.05 Blanka Vlaic (CRO) PR 2.07 (= #4 all-time) (2007) Gold medal in 2007 World Championships, gold medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2008 Olympic Games, silver medal in 2006 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2004 World Indoor Championships, 4th in 2003 World Indoor Championships, 6th in 2001 World Championships, 7th in 2003 World Championships, 11th in 2004 Olympic Games
2.01 Ruth Beitia (ESP) PR 2.02 (2007) Bronze medal in 2006 World Indoor Championships, 4th in 2008 World Indoor Championships, 5th in 2003 World Indoor Championships, 6th in 2007 World Championships, 7th in 2008 Olympic Games, 7th in 2001 World Indoor Championships, 11th in 2003 World Championships
2.00 Antonietta Di Martino (ITA) PR 2.03 (2007) Silver medal (tie) in 2007 World Championships, 5th in 2006 World Indoor Championships, 12th in 2001 World Championships, 10th in 2008 Olympic Games
2.00 Anna Chicherova (RUS) PR 2.04 (2008) Silver medal (tie) in 2007 World Championships, silver medal in 2004 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2008 Olympic Games bronze medal in 2003 World Indoor Championships, 4th in 2005 World Championships, 6th in 2004 Olympic Games, 6th in 2003 World Championships
1.99 Marina Aitova (KAZ) Bronze medal in 2006 World Cup, 5th in 2008 World Indoor Championships, 7th in 2007 World Championships, 10th in 2008 Olympic Games
1.98 Chaunté Howard (USA) PR 2.01 (= #2 all-time USA) (2006) Silver medal in 2005 World Championships, 6th in 2008 Olympic Games, 8th in 2008 World Indoor Championships
1.98 Svetlana Shkolina (RUS) 14th in 2008 Olympic Games
1.97 Irina Gordeeva (RUS)
1.96 Emma Green (SWE) PR 1.97 (2005) Bronze medal in 2005 World Championships, 7th in 2007 World Championships, 9th in 2008 Olympic Games
1.96 Elena Slesarenko (RUS) PR 2.06 (= #6 all-time) (2004) Gold medal in 2004 Olympic Games, gold medal in 2004 World Indoor Championships, gold medal in 2006 World Indoor Championships, gold medal in 2006 World Cup, silver medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships, 4th in 2008 Olympic Games, 4th in 2007 World Championships
1.95 Vita Palamar (UKR) PR 2.01 (2008) Bronze medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships, 4th in 2004 World Indoor Championships, 5th in 2008 Olympic Games, 5th in 2005 World Championships, 5th in 2003 World Championships, 5th in 2001 World Championships, 5th in 2001 World Indoor Championships, 7th in 2007 World Championships, 7th in 2000 Olympic Games
1.95 Destinee Hooker (USA) PR 1.98i (= #8 all-time USA) (2009)+
1.95 Venelina Veneva-Mateeva (BUL) PR 2.04 (2006) bronze medal in 2001 World Indoor Championships, 4th in 2003 World Championships, 4th in 2001 World Championships, 7th in 2004 World Indoor Championships, 9th in 2000 Olympic Games, 10th in 2005 World Championships
1.95 Amy Acuff (USA) PR 2.01 (= #2 all-time USA) (2003) Bronze medal in 2006 World Cup, 4th in 2004 Olympic Games, 4th in 2001 World Indoor Championships, 6th in 2008 World Indoor Championships, 8th in 2005 World Championships, 8th in 1995 World Championships, 9th in 2003 World Championships, 9th in 1999 World Championships, 10th in 2003 World Indoor Championships, 10th in 2001 World Championships, 12th in 2007 World Championships
1.95 Sharon Day (USA)
No mark in 2009 Tia Hellebaut (BEL)+ PR 2.05 (= #9 all-time) (2007) Gold medal in 2008 Olympic Games, silver medal in 2006 World Cup, 6th in 2006 World Indoor Championships, 6th in 2005 World Championships, 12th in 2004 Olympic Games, 14th in 2007 World Championships
+ = Not on Worlds Team in HJ
