IAAF Press Conference Quotes

The traditional IAAF press Conference hosted by President Lamine Diack on the eve of the second World Athletics Final took place at the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel in Monaco, this afternoon.

In addition to President Diack and Local representatives SEM Bernard Fautrier – Vice President of the Monegasque Athletic Federation – and Jean Pierre Schoebel - meeting director - the press conference was attended by two-time Olympic gold medalist Kelly Holmes of Great Britain, Golden League Jackpot winner Tonique Williams-Darling of Bahamas, Olympic champion and World record holder Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia on the women’s side and Olympic bronze medallist Naman Keita of France, World Number one ranked Asafa Powell of Jamaica and four-time World champion Allen Johnson of the USA on the men’s side.

Here’s a transcript of the athletes’ quotes

Kelly Holmes
Entered in the World Athletics Final’s 800m and 1500m
Ranked number 3 in the 800m, number 2 in the 1500m and number 7 overall

“My whole career I have always tried to run as best as I can but I have had a lot of injuries. I knew that if I was given the opportunity to remain injury free I would be able to fulfill my dreams. This is the first year I have been injury free and look at what I’ve accomplished. Still I didn’t think I would win 2 medals in the Olympics let alone 2 gold.”

“Now I am pleased to be racing and pleased with the way I have been running after the Olympics (in the Berlin Golden League). I just want to go out there and enjoy what I am doing.”

“I am going to go out there and run the 1500m on Saturday and I know it’s going to be a very tough race because just like (Tatyana) Tomashova I also want to end the season at the top of the IAAF World Rankings (for 1500m). Then if I still feel ok on Sunday I will run the 800m as well.”

Tonique Williams-Darling
Competing in the World Athletics Final 400m on Sunday
Ranked number 1 in the 400m and number 4 overall

“This year the dream has definitely come true for me. I have achieved in one year what athletes do in a whole career and I really do feel blessed.”

“I believe running under 49 seconds this weekend will be possible. The fact that there are no rounds and that everyone is fit, I definitely think 48 seconds is within reach. And if Ana Guevara wears her full body suit I will definitely run under 49 because in that case she means business.”

Yelena Isinbayeva
Competing in the World Athletics Final Pole Vault on Sunday
Ranked number 1 in the Pole Vault and in the Overall standings

Asked about her dancing performance following her World record in Brussels
“No I won’t go into pop music! I like the Pole Vault, I like to jump and I like to fly. I enjoy when I please the crowd and I see people happy. In Brussels I just liked the music they were playing and so I danced and sang along.”

“I am a normal person so I do have some bad moments too but I always try to be happy and positive because this attitude has helped me a lot both in the Pole Vault and in my personal life.”

“I believe jumping 5 metres is possible but not this year. I want to get there step by step; little by little. Every time I break the World record it means that I win the competition. And when I win the competition I am happy!”

Naman Keita
Competing in the World Athletics Final 400m Hurdles on Sunday
Ranked number 3 in the 400m Hurdles and 37 overall

“To have won a medal at my first Olympic Games has been like a dream come true. Going into Athens, my objective was to get to the final and then actually getting on the podium was a major accomplishment for me. But that was just the beginning of my career.”

“Stéphane Diagana has been a model for athletes both in France and around the world and I too have tried to follow his example. My medal in Athens was the proof that French athletics is still good. That we French athletes can win medals.”

Asafa Powell
Competing in the World Athletics Final 100m on Saturday and 200m on Sunday
Ranked number 1 in the 100m and 13th overall

“Although I didn’t win a medal at the Olympic Games, I am really happy with my season. I have run 8 times under ten seconds and this means a lot to me. Athens was my first Olympics so I am pleased I made it to the final and finished fifth. I am still young and have time ahead of me to improve on that result.”

“I am very tired and ready to go home after such a long season but I am looking forward to this weekend’s races. It’ll be a different competition than the Olympics and for sure you can expect an under 10 second race.”

Allen Johnson
Competing in the World Athletics Final 110m Hurdles on Saturday
Ranked number 1 in the 110m Hurdles and number 5 overall

About his fall in Athens
“I was shocked when I hit the ground. Now, I have accepted it and moved on. Falling in Athens was a major disappointment in my season but overall I am pleased with myself because I still feel I have dominated my event. I have won races and lost races. I have run fast times so overall it has been a good season.”

“What happened in Athens motivates me more for next year. The competitor in me was looking forward to taking on the medallists from Athens this weekend but unfortunately none of them is here in Monaco. I wanted to find someway of duplicating that Olympic final and prove them I am still here.”

“I will train harder this winter and my motivation in training will for sure be more thorough so I will be ready to take on those guys at next year’s World Championships. “

“Liu Xiang’s World record was a bit of surprise for me. I thought he could run under 13 seconds for having run against him I knew he was ready to run that fast. But honestly I thought he would have run somewhere between 12.98 and 13.06. I believe the 110m Hurdles will be the most exciting event at next year’s World Championships.”

All athletes were then asked who they thought the athlete of the year should be apart from themselves and the answers were:

Tonique Williams-Darling – “Kelly Holmes for being a double Olympic champion and because she is sitting on my right.”

Kelly Holmes – “Tonique Williams-Darling for her undefeated season and because she is sitting on my left.”

Yelena Isinbayeva – “I cannot answer this question because I think it will be me!”

Naman Keita– “Hicham El Guerrouj and Kelly Holmes for both winning two gold medals in Athens.”

Asafa Powell – “Veronica Campbell for her three medals in Athens.”

Allen Johnson – “It will be a three-way tie between Tonique Williams-Darling, undefeated this season, Kelly Holmes, double Olympic gold medallist and Yelena Isinbayeva many times World record breaker in the women’s. And a three-way tie between Hicham El Guerrouj for his double Olympic gold, Asafa Powell for his dominance in the 100 and Liu Xiang, because I’m a hurdler, in the men’s.”

 
IAAF