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London, Aug 6 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan took Olympic gold in the women's triple jump Sunday.
Rypakova, the world silver medalist, took the title with a third-round jump of 14.98 metres, a season's best.
"I did not expect to win, but deep in my heart I had a secret hope of winning. And today I won," she said.
"I thought that to have a chance of winning I have to jump more than 15 metres and I did my best to jump more than 15 metres."
Daegu bronze medalist Caterine Ibarguen snatched a dramatic silver by a single centimetre with a last-round jump of 14.80.
"I'm very happy and even more happy for the people at home. I'm just very proud," Ibarguen said.
World champion Olha Saladuha of Ukraine thought she had silver in the bag with 14.79 but was bumped down to bronze at the death.
Defending champion Tatyana Lebedeva, 36, ended her quest for a sixth Olympic medal when she failed to make the cut, unable to improve on a first-round jump of 14.11.
Lebedeva, who won silvers in Sydney and Beijing as well as a bronze in Athens, led a Russian podium sweep in the regular long jump in 2004.
It was her last competitive appearance.
"I have decided to retire," Lebedeva said.
"Every Olympic Games, I have more and more experience and wisdom, but my health is down and down."
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