Barbora Špotáková, Olympic javelin champion and a SEAT ambassador, has already won two gold medals in Beijing 2008 and London 2012. While in training for her next sporting event, she accepts a new challenge – testing herself against the SEAT Leon CUPRA. The Czech Republic Football Association stadium is the backdrop for the race, where the participants have three attempts. Which one will be faster?
- A few seconds before competing: While the driver of the SEAT Leon CUPRA starts the 300 hp 2.0 TSI engine, Barbora psyches herself up for the throw. “In order to concentrate on what my body is going to do, my mind has to be completely blank. I focus on a spot on the other side of the stadium and virtually project my throw over there”, she explains before competing.
The challenge puts the car’s 300 hp to the test against the strength of the athlete, who currently holds the world record with a distance of 72.28 metres.
- Best out of three: Right after the starting gun, the SEAT Leon CUPRA accelerates from 0 to a 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. This performance gives it the advantage over Barbora’s first javelin throw. In her second attempt, the javelin leaves her hand at a speed of seven metres per second and crosses the stadium almost undetected, outperforming the car. In the third and final attempt, despite flying through the air at around 90 km/h, the javelin cannot outpace the SEAT Leon CUPRA, which is ultimately proclaimed the winner.
- Winning spirit: The SEAT Leon CUPRA holds two speed records on Germany’s Nürburgring circuit, a 21 kilometre racing venue with 73 curves. In 2014 it became the fastest front wheel drive compact sport car, and a year later set the best time among the family vehicles in its segment. On the other hand, Barbora Špotáková is the current world record holder in the javelin throw. After smashing the best European result at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, that same year she broke the world record at the world athletics final in Stuttgart. For this Czech athlete, “this proves that hard work, commitment and patience pay off in the end”.
- Going for her third gold: The Olympic javelin champion and SEAT ambassador is preparing herself for her fifth Olympic Games. “Strength, speed, excellent technique…and most importantly, a keen mind. I cannot say I’m in Tokyo 2020 yet, but what motivates me is winning a third gold medal”.
Challenge between the SEAT Leon CUPRA and Barbora Špotáková, Olympic javelin champion and a brand ambassador.
- A lifetime of challenges: Barbora Špotáková is a great lover of challenges, and admits they have been with her throughout her personal life and sporting career: “Two that stand out are returning to sports after the birth of my son, and training for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games following an injury just five months before competing. My life is full of challenges”. After today’s race, Barbora says the next time she’s up against a CUPRA she’ll bring along her lucky charm, a plush toy in the shape of a lemur.