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News09 Aug 2001


A stroll through Edmonton for Ivanova

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A stroll through Edmonton for Ivanova
Nikolay Ivanov for the IAAF
9 August 2001 – Edmonton – After totally dominating the 20 kilometre walk in Edmonton, world record holder Olimpiada Ivanova spoke with IAAF correspondent Nikola Ivanov.

“I was at my top form and it was so great that I had no real rivals today,” said 20 km walker Olimpiada Ivanova after her victory. “There was no real fight, I walked like in training and I did not  like  such easy competition.”

NI: “But your coaches were very nervous.”

“Yes they were shouting to be careful  on the last two kilometres. And I walked very slow, I was gluing my feet to the track.”

NI: You were walking ahead of others all the time.

“That is because I hate it when somebody is ahead of me and controls the speed of the competition. I do not like to look at other people’s backs when I am competing.”

NI: Were did you get such a strength from?

“Before the World Championships I was at a training camp in Kirgizia, in a place Cholpon Ata and I was training at 2000 metres altitude. Sometimes we were making trips even higher.”

NI: what was it like coming back after your disqualification in 1997 at the World championships?

“Yes it was a very hard period, I was dreaming to return and I had a hope that the great day will come. I was training even on Sundays. I needed not to have any free time and I even began training in wrestling. So in the morning I walked and in the evening I wrestled. I was returning home after 21.00 completely wiped out.”

NI: What happened with you last year before Olympic games?

“The coaches knew that I can win a medal but they selected another athlete, so I stayed at home.”

NI: What do you think about modern walking?

“Our rules need modification. Every athlete now has a phase when his feet are not touching the track. You can see it on the slow motion pictures. I think that the lifting rule should be changed and that we should just keep the straight leg rule for the aesthetics of the sport.”

NI: How is your family life?

“I live in Cheboksary with a wonderful husband who is my coach and my 11-year-old daughter Maria. But I do not see her very often now. I am coming home only for major holidays. All other time I am spending at the training camps.

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