Olympic heptathlon champion Natalia Dobrynska is starting to get anxious ahead of the IAAF World Championships and hopes to achieve a fine double in Berlin. Dobrynksa is going to compete not only in the Heptathlon but also in the Long Jump.

“Recently my every minute is devoted to preparations to the World Champs in Berlin. Even right now, I am sitting in the hall of my training centre and waiting for a team meeting to start. It’s going to be kind of general, usual thing before the big events. But let’s see what the team leaders are going to tell us this time. You never know.

“I am training in the centre called Brovary, it’s near Kiev. It’s the base for multiple events, while all other athletes on the team are training in Konchazaspa, also not far from here. Actually it does not matter for me that other Ukrainian girls, my future competitors, are also training here. We have different training schedules and I almost do not see them! When I train they rest and vice versa. 

“It seems my training does not differ much, every year it is almost the same. I am doing a lot of sprint and speed work, jumps, go to the gym, throwing technique… It’s my usual routine but to do everything 100 percent is quite hard! It’s hot now, so we have to train early in the morning and late in the evening to avoid direct sun. Every time it’s hard in training I think about Berlin, about how I’ll have to defend my title of Olympic champion, and go on. My motivation is to be better in every event; I know it’s possible for me.

“We are flying to Berlin on 13 August, two days before the start, as no acclimatization is needed. It’s good, I’ll have more time for training. I’ve never been to the Olympic stadium in Berlin, although I saw it on TV for the Golden League meets. The stadium is huge but I think after the Bird’s nest it’s impossible to make me surprised with the scale! I like that the stadium is called Olympic. Good associations for me!

“I decided to do in Berlin also the long jump. The qualification starts only on 21 August, so I’ll have enough time to recover after the heptathlon. I have no specific goals for the long jump; I’ll just try it and see how it works. Of course heptathlon is my main focus. But you know, I remember back in 2003 Eunice Barber won silver in the heptathlon, and after that became the World champion in the long jump. It’s too ambitious for me to dream about winning the long jump, I know… But my dreams are just the first step. To achieve something you have first to dream about this, and afterwards think how to make your dream come true. Without dreams there is no progress!

“The closer my start, the more anxious I am getting. It is growing inside of me, kind of excitement and anxiety. I know the results in heptathlon will be extremely high, the competition is definitely going to be tough. But I am in good shape and I’ll do my best not to let down the expectations.

“Wish me good luck in Berlin!”

Natalia