Leuven, Belgium – Kim Gevaert is healthy and back in form just before the start of the 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships, Valencia, Spain (7- 9 March). The double European 60m Indoor champion and the World Indoor bronze medallist from 2006 looked sharp and confident again at her last training session on Wednesday (4).

At a press conference, Gevaert said that she was very happy with the progress that she has made in training and that she is going to fight to catch the gold medal in Valencia.

Four or five women to battle for the medals

From 19 to 23 February Gevaert had a bad flu and high feves, which forced her to withdraw from competing in Gent. But, worst of all, it disturbed her preparation for the World Indoor Championships a lot.

“The recovery went just fine and I worked very hard over the past ten days”, said Gevaert. “In the first training sessions, I felt somewhat frustrated but I realised that I was too impatient. I said to myself that I was not going to watch the World Championships on TV at home.”

“I’ve done everything then that I could possibly do to reach my best form. I feel that I have the potential to win the Championship, but I don’t know if I can produce my perfect race next Friday when things matter. The championship will be very competitive with at least four or five women battling for the medals. But I will definitely fight for it, I want to be in contention for the gold medal.”

Williams is the favourite

“Angela Williams is the clear favourite to win the title”, said Gevaert. “She’s the American champion and she has been very consistent throughout the season.”

“I only competed once this year. It was not a perfect race in Birmingham and therefore I was very happy with 7.15. My aim in Valencia is to advance through the heats and the semifinals with a good feeling and to go into the final with the right motivation and focus.”

Her coach Rudi Diels counts on the experience of his athlete. “Three races in one day is a very tough exercise, both physically and mentally. In the end it will come down to hundredths of second. Every championship has its own story,” said Diels.

Gevaert is back in full force

On her last training session in her home base at the University of Leuven, Kim Gevaert produces a few short sprints at maximum speed, but she mainly concentrates on her starting action and on her acceleration phase. And Gevaert is showing some superb sprinting action indeed. “Technically everything looks very sound,” says Diels. “She’s coming very strongly off the blocks again and that proves that she’s back in full force. The key thing for Kim will be the buildup to the final where she has to be fresh and capable of sustaining her effort. This training session will certainly boost her confidence.”

Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF