Olympic
champion Ferguson and World champion Borzakovskiy guest stars in Disneyland
IAAF
8 July 2001 – Paris – A fantastic experience awaited Olympic 4x100m champion Debbie Ferguson (BAH) and Russian 800m wonder Yuriy Borzakovskiy in Paris. As part of the IAAF Elite Athletes Programme the two athletes were among a group of six who were invited as guest stars to visit Disneyland attraction park yesterday.
Following the second leg of the IAAF Golden League meeting in the Stade de France in Paris Saint Denis, Olympic sprint finalist Ferguson, World indoor champion Borzakovskiy, European 800m champion and Olympic finalist Yelena Afanasyeva (RUS), Olympic 400m hurdles finalist Tatyana Tereshchuk (UKR), 800m runner Boris Kaveshnikov (RUS) and 3000m pace maker Olga Komyagina (RUS) made the trip to Marne la Vallée for what they called “a very special rest day.”
A school teacher, Afanasyeva said “it was an excellent way to relax after the competition. When one wants to work well he has to rest well. I enjoyed this unique experience very much and I will certainly come back with my family.”
Afanasyeva, who finished 8th in Paris, will head back to Moscow with her Russian compatriots in order to take part in the Russian championships next week and try and qualify for the World championships in Edmonton, Canada.
“The ride I preferred today was Space Mountain,” said 20-year-old Borzakovskiy who established a new Russian record of 1:43.73 the previous night when he finished second to Andre Bucher in what was an exceptional 800m race. “I enjoyed spending time with other athletes because even if we always travel together, in the end we don’t take the time to know each other better.
The athletes were accompanied successfully to the Big Thunder Mountain ride, the Haunted castle, the Indiana Jones ride, the Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain.
“I loved it!” said an ecstatic Debbie Ferguson. “When I was told by the IAAF that I would be invited to Disneyland in Paris I was really pleased. I have never had the chance to go to Disney attraction parks in the US and I was looking forward to this experience today. And it has been great!”
Ferguson who will compete Monday in Nice’s 200m race said “it was great to have the chance to go with Russian runners too. The language doesn’t matter. I have been given the chance to know them better and I have now made new friends!”