Daegu, Korea – Six of athletics biggest stars, representing each of the six IAAF Areas, joined IAAF President Lamine Diack to celebrate the “final lap” of the Athletics World Plan 2003-2012.
After the presentation on the final day of the 48th IAAF Congress, Meseret Defar, Allyson Felix, Fabiana Murer, Steven Hooker, Koji Murofushi, and Andreas Thorkildsen met with members of the international press to discuss their plans and preparations for the IAAF World Championships, which get underway in just two days time.
Allyson Felix (USA), three-time World 200m champion, who will be contesting the 200m, 400, 4x100m Relay and 4x400m Relay:
On which event will be the toughest to win:
“I’d say the 400m because it’s new territory for me. I’ve never ran it at a championship event. The competition is very fierce; it is in the 200m as well, but I feel more experienced in that event.”
On the winning time in that event:
“I think it will be quick. The weather here isn’t ideal, but for me at championships I don’t focus on times, it’s all about knowing how to win and pulling out the victory.”
On visualising success at championships:
“The only races that I play through in my mind are perfect races. I don’t lose in my mind. It’s all about executing and doing the exact things I need to do, so that’s what I visualise.”
On the conditions in Daegu:
“I’m getting used to the weather because I’ve been here since the 18th August. I’m a California girl so not seeing the sun is really getting to me, but the good thing is it’s not too cold.”
Fabiana Murer (BRA), 2010 World Indoor champion, Pole Vault
On what it will take to clinch a medal:
I think to get a medal we have to jump 4.80m so that’s my goal.
Her primary competition:
I think there are six girls who have a very good chance at a medal: Yelena (Isinbayeva), Svetlana (Feofanova), Jennifer (Suhr), Anna (Rogowska), and Silke Spiegelburg, and me.
On Yelena Isinbayeva’s return to competition this year:
She’s a great athlete. She has a lot of experience. Olympic Games, World Champions. She hasn’t had a very good result this year yet – she just changed her coach, and that that takes a little to adjust. But I think she’ll get a good result. Everybody wants to win, but she wants to win again. And she has a chance to win again.
Is she in better shape physically that two years ago?
I think so. I thinks I’m faster. Stronger? Probably not (laughs). I train hard but it’s hard for me gain muscles. My technique is getting better. I feel I’m very prepared for the championships. But we’ll see how ready in the competition.
Mentally stronger now?
I think every year is different. Last year went very well and I knew what I was doing. This year was a little bit more difficult. I wasn’t as confident in the beginning of the season because I didn’t have very good training because of bad weather at home in Brazil.
Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR), reigning World and Olympic champion in the Javelin Throw:
His goals for Daegu:
I want to have a good championship. I have the potential to win, so I’m going in to win.
Was he surprised with his 90m throw at national championships?
Not in those conditions. It was mostly because of the conditions that it went that far. I hope I can throw that far again here in the finals.
There was a really good tailwind. It was far from a perfect throw. It wouldn’t have gone that far in less perfect conditions (laughs). I wouldn’t cal it perfect, but it’s going according to plan. Hopefully I can repeat that performance next week.
Would he like to see a ‘wind gauge’ used in his event?
“I wish we did. If you look at the list and all the results done in big stadiums, it’s big difference to the throws done in smaller stadiums. But it’s impossible to put a wind gauge on the javelin because you wouldn’t know where to put it.
Who does he see as the main contenders?
Actually right now, it’s hard to say. Because many of the guys are at the same level. So you really don’t know who is going to pull out a big throw at the Worlds.
On Germany’s Matthias de Zordo:
He’s one of the guys who has big possibilities. He did last year, and he showed to be a championship thrower.
Is there anything tactical about the Javelin Throw?
Not really. The best tactic is just to throw far. It usually works. It works psychologically too.
Meseret Defer (ETH), former World and Olympic 5000m champion, who will contest the 5000m/10,000m double in Daegu:
On her current form:
“I feel very good. I ran a few races this year, then I went back to Ethiopia to train and now I’m feeling very good.”
On facing arch-rival Vivian Cheruiyot in both the 5000m and 10,000m:
“In Daegu there will be many big competitors from Kenya and Ethiopia. It will be difficult running both the 5000m and 10,000m again, but I’ve trained hard to try to beat them and I will do my best.”
On bouncing back from disappointment in Berlin two years ago:
“In Berlin I was disappointed. I was in good shape, but when I arrived there I got flu and was sick, and after that I lost two races. But this year I’m ready.”
Steve Hooker (AUS), World and Olympic Pole Vault champion:
On his competition plan for Daegu:
“I’m going to be taking the opposite approach to Berlin. I’m going to try to jump more, try to work my way up through the heights until I hit my top form in competition. What I know is anything can happen in the final, so I need to be there.”
On his preparation for the World Championships:
“I don’t think I’ve had a perfect preparation for any major championships I’ve had, maybe with the exception of the World Indoors in Doha. My world and Olympic golds have come off bad preparation but I always feel like a major championships gives me a lift and I always feel different inside the stadium at a major championships than I do at a regular competition so I’m looking forward to feeling this lift and feeling like I’m at a major championships.”
On his main rivals:
“I trained with Renaud (Lavillenie) the other day. We were jumping at the same time, but he was jumping better than I did so he should feel confident. (Pawel) Wojciechowski’s jump is very good and he has a very solid technique. He recently won the European Under-23s and the World Military Games, so he is used to winning at the moment. When a guy is used to being the last one left in the competition, then they have a lot of confidence. He’s a big danger.”
On what it will take to win:
“It depends on the weather, it’s very different conditions here. If it’s raining and you can jump 5.80m with an early attempt then that’s a good clearance. If it’s a nice day and it’s dry and warm, it’s going to be over 5.90m for sure. It’s a good stadium to jump in and a good opportunity to get a good result if it’s nice weather.”
Koji Murofushi (JPN), 2004 Olympic Hammer Throw champion:
On his first championships appearance since 2007:
I couldn't participate at the last World Championships in Berlin, so I’m really excited to be here in Daegu, to meet with friends and my fellow competitors. I’m in pretty good shape and excited for the competition to begin.
I’m trying to be confident (laughs), but it’s hard. This year I’m going to be 37 years old. The condition is the key to performing well. I’m trying to be healthy and trying to peak at the right time and the right place.
What will be expected to win a medal:
Depends on the weather and the condition but a throw of 80 metres should be enough for a medal. I don’t know which one, but it should be enough. I haven’t thrown that yet this year but I’ll try my best to get that.
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