NEXT, THE WORLDS

Heptathlon gold medalist Ghada Shouaa of Syria isn’t lacking in confidence.

“I did not break the world record in Atlanta, but I will do that in Athens next summer,” she said Monday, referring to the world championships.

Shouaa is the third Arab woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Algerian Hassiba Boulmerak won the 1,500 meters in Barcelona, and Morocco’s Nawal Al-Moutawakil won the 400 hurdles in Los Angeles in 1984.

Shouaa appeared to make little of her triumph when she told Damascus Radio: “My job was easy in the absence of Jackie Joyner-Kersee.”

Joyner-Kersee was injured and withdrew after one event.