Sweden was pinning its hopes on its pin-up girl and the news that one of sport's most dominant figures had decided to give up her gold because she had fallen out of love with her event was big news throughout the nation.

Carolina Klüft had said that she felt empty and lacked motivation for the heptathlon after last summer's World Championships in Osaka, Japan, and so now she will compete in the long jump and the triple jump. Her personal best in the former is 6.97 metres, which would have secured her a world silver medal, but 13 women jumped farther than her last year. It could prove a move from hegemony to the edge of things.

“When in ten years' time I come to look back on my career, I will definitely be glad that I made my decision with my heart and did not listen too much to everyone else,” Klüft said. “I am aware that expectations will be thwarted, but in the final analysis I can't let myself worry about it.”

The Swedish news channels and papers were full of stories about their golden girl last night, after Slamadnsposten, her local paper, printed their scoop, although they still have other gold-medal hopes with Susanna Kallur in the hurdles and Stefan Holm in the high jump. No one should count out Klüft, either. “The long jump is going to be my main event, I hope to go over seven metres and then we'll see,” she said.

Klüft's decision may alter Kelly Sotherton's plans. She has considered doing the heptathlon as well as the long jump and has stated her wish to be part of the 4x400 metres relay team in Beijing. With Klüft out of the equation, she may want to linger longer before finalising her plans.

Klüft, 25, said that she may be back. “Maybe I'll try the heptathlon again in a few years, but right now I don't have the necessary motivation for competing at the top level,” she said. “I needed a new challenge.” It would not be a shock if her leap of faith resulted in a long jump medal in Beijing.