Swedish athlete Carolina Kluft - file

osaka, japan (ap)

Carolina Kluft is peerless, but has no desire to be perfect.

Unbeaten and ruthlessly dominant in the heptathlon for a half decade, the Swede's collection of Olympic, World and European titles are testament to claims that she is one of the all-time greats. And she is an overwhelming favourite to add another title when the World Championships begin this weekend.

So why is Kluft not more aggressively chasing that lone remaining challenge, one which is already two decades old?

It is spelled WR - world record. And it is held by Jackie Joyner-Kersee, whose 7,291 points at the 1988 Seoul Olympics remains among the oldest records in athletics.

Lack of a close rival

"I never think about it," Kluft said. "I will not end my career being disappointed because I have chased a record I might never get."

"I am not sure I even have the ability to break it," she said.

Many argue the lack of a close rival to push her harder is the sole reason she has not got closer to the mark yet.

America's Joyner-Kersee has the all-time six best performances in the event. Compared, Kluft has broken 7,000 points just once, when winning her first world title in Paris four years ago, with a total of 7001.

"Jackie Joyner-Kersee was a great athlete with a great record. And if she keeps that forever, I don't care. Good for her," said Kluft.

"I have my own things to be happy about."

In the modern sporting world, such an approach is atypical.

Then again, Kluft hardly fits the mould of the ruthless conqueror. Often she talks about her rivals as friends and applauds just as much for her nearest competitor as fans do for her. "Sport is about friendship," she said.

Refreshing attitude

That refreshing attitude adds an extra dimension to a champion regarded as "the world's greatest woman athlete", earned through her domination of the seven-event competition.

Yet, her generosity did not stop Kluft from thriving in competition, with her winning streak beginning when she was just 19. "Everyone is different and needs different things," she said yesterday.

Her chances of adding another heptathlon gold in Japan surged yesterday when the 1999 champion, Eunice Barber of France, pulled out to concentrate on the long jump instead.

Barber has been Kluft's toughest challenger throughout her career but this year the Frenchwoman had been weakened by nagging injuries.

Kluft refused to be turned into the overwhelming favourite though.

"There are still a lot of other good athletes out there," she said.

Statistics do not back her up though.

Even if Ukraine's Lyudmila Blonska holds the year's top mark with 6,733 points, a personal best, Kluft beat her in their only meeting this season. And the top marks of both women hardly compare.

The world record does not seem in danger this weekend, partly because of the lack of genuine competition and partly because of the heat and humidity that could send peak temperatures into the 40s C (over 100F) trackside.

That does not phase Kluft one bit.

"It is sunshine. It is worse to be in the rain."