She also won the International Combined Events Meeting in Hexham in 2000 before she went on to study in the US and specialise in Javelin throwing.

She was an All-American during her one season at the University of Minnesota in 2001–02,[2][3] and won the silver medal at the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg.

Špotáková improved the Czech national record (previously 66.21 m held by herself since 2006) twice in the final of the 2007 World Championships in Osaka.

At the 2008 Olympics, she won the gold medal, taking the lead with her last throw, 71.42 m, which set a new European record.

Špotáková gave birth to a son in May 2013 and did not compete at the world championships in Moscow later that year.