Combo shows Sweden's heptathlete Carolina Kluft (centre) celebrating after winning the women's heptathlon at the World Athletics Championships yesterday in Osaka, Japan. Small pictures show her, clockwise from bottom left, at the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, all on Saturday, and in the long jump, javelin throw and 800m yesterday. - AP Photos

OSAKA, Japan (Reuters):

Carolina Kluft was in no mood to discuss whether she would defend her heptathlon title at next year's Beijing Olympics after winning her third straight world crown yesterday.

The 24-year-old Swede, who beat her personal best and the European record with 7,032 points, continues to keep everyone guessing as to whether she will continue with the seven-event sport beyond this season.

"Right now I'm just happy with my victory here," she told a news conference.

"Beating my personal best was one of my biggest motivations. I'm not thinking about the future.

"I will continue to work hard and continue to train as long as I think it's fun and as long as I continue to be motivated."

She just about retained her celebratory demeanour when pressed about her plans.

"Why do you want to ruin this moment?" she said. "I'll have a week off and I'll finish this season well and then I'll think about my plans for Beijing."

All Kluft's heptathlon rivals joined her on her lap of honour and the two other medallists were united in their view that the Swede was definitely a good thing for the sport.

"We all had good results because we were trying to catch up with Carolina," said Ukraine's silver medallist Lyudmyla Blonska. "As long as she continues in the sport, I will continue to try and catch up with her."

Bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton expects Kluft to be in Beijing next August.

"It's been a really tough competition," the Briton said. "It shows how tough it will be for next year's Olympics."