Olympic champion Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic broke the women's javelin world record at the World Athletics Final on Saturday.

"I was thinking about how I can throw a personal best today, I never really thought about the world record," Spotakova said, "I was really shocked. I didn't expect it. It's just unbelievable."

The Czech who won the Olympic gold in Beijing with her previous best of 71.42, made 72.28 meters in her first throw to break the world mark of 71.70 set by Osleidys Menendez of Cuba at the 2005 world championships in Helsinki.

Spotakova, also world champion, will receive a 100,000 US dollars bonus for the record.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2008 )