Swedish high jumper Kajsa Bergqvist won the gold medal of women's high jump on Monday at the world championships in Helsinki, creating the best score of 2.02m in the world this year.

U.S. high jumper Chaunte Howard won the silver medal by clearing the bar of 2m while Bergqvist's teammate Emma Green took the third place with her personal best of 1.96m.

Russian veteran Yelena Slesarenko stopped before the bar of 1. 98m and merely took the four place.

With cheers and applauses from thousands of Swedish fans, Bergqvist cleared the bar of 2.02m with ease at her first try, while her last rival Howard narrowly jumped over the 2m bar at her third attempt.

"I felt this was my chance to get the gold medal at the World Championships. I just wished that I would succeed with my aim, and I did," she said after match.

"The American jumped very well, so I knew that also I must jump well. I knew I had to clear every height with the first attempt," she added.

Bergqvist has been back in good form after injury this season. She has repeatedly clear the 2m bar this summer, and her season best is 2.01m.

Confident in her form, she tried to break the world record of 2. 09m by demanding a height of 2.10m after she grappled the gold medal. Despite failing to do so, she won storming applause for her great courage.

"I believe that it is possible for me to jump the world record," she said.

The world record was set by Bulgarian athlete Stefka Kostadinova on August 30, 1987, in Rome of Italy.

Source: Xinhua