Princes Charming and the Magnificent Seven

‘‘My job is to concentrate on what I am supposed to do once I enter the arena,’’ Kluft (22) told The Indian Express in a lengthy, exclusive interview after the first two events of the heptathlon on Saturday.

‘‘The injury was painful but I had to fight it out,” she said.’

Kluft said she and Barber were friends and understood and appreciated each other. ‘‘People think we are rivals but not. We are friends and because of her I am able to dig in and fight.’’

And how! With her left ankle strapped heavily, Kluft went about the ordeal of the seven-discipline event closing in on Barber inch by inch. At the end of day one, Kluft had narrowed down the margin after four events. It was a different story on Sunday and the Swede was simply superb.

Yet she seemed disappointed at not being able better her personal best of 7001 points she recorded at this meet in Paris two years ago.

Was she worried about Barber before the last event, the 800m? ‘‘No, she was ahead of me but I knew I could catch up with her. Eventually I did, didn’t I?” she asked with a smile.

Kluft also made it clear that she wasn’t going to attempt the world record (7291) held by Jackie Joyner-Kersee since the Seoul Olympics in 1988. Kluft’s theory is that she wouldn’t want to put pressure on herself.

‘‘I was a little girl when Jackie did it and my logic is simple. If it comes my way it will. If it doesn’t I am not worried. I don’t want to put any additional pressure on myself.’’

Her only aim at any meet, she said, was to win gold and she would put in only that kind of effort which will take her close to that goal. That’s precisely the reason why Kluft, despite measuring a distance of 6.87 metres yesterday in the heptathlon long jump, was not interested in competing in the general long jump event here.

‘‘You cannot understand the strain I have gone through over the last two days. My body’s tired and aching. And the event (long jump) is too close. Had it been scheduled a few days later, I would have considered taking part in it.’’

But she would be running the 4×100 relay.

A footballer’s daughter from Sandhult — her father Johnny is now her manager — Kluft was a late convert from that sport to athletics. ‘‘It was my first love but my elder sister loved athletics. So finally I tried that and took a liking to it.’’

It now dominates her life, thanks to her successes and a rigorous work ethic. ‘‘I train for two sessions every day but on Saturday limit it to just one. My fellow Swedish athletes are great, and the environment in which we train is beautiful.’’

What are her plans after the win? ‘‘Well, go back home and rest; spend time with family and friends and things will carry on as normal.’’

After the last two days, some chance.