Steven Hooker is congratulated by Renaud Lavillenie for winning the IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup in Split (© Getty Images)
After a long and demanding season, Samsung Diamond League Ambassador Steve Hooker needed a break a little bit more than in other years. The continued development of some young, talented rivals gives him all the motivation he needs for 2011 and 2012.
“I think the continuing emergence of guys like Renaud (Lavillenie) and Malte Mohr has been notable this year. It’s going to be interesting to see how they go next year. They’ve got the European Indoors at the start of 2011.
“They’re young, talented vaulters. Having those sort of rivals around keeps me motivated.
“I found 2010 a very different year, with my major goals (World Indoors and Commonwealth Games) at either end of the inaugural Diamond League season. It was a year to which I had a lower-key approach, and that was probably reflected in some of my results.
“As a whole, though, I think it will make me approach 2011 and 2012 with still more intensity and a desire to get good results.
“Since I got home from Delhi I’ve been in Melbourne. I’ve been doing very little, I didn’t go to the Cup (the world-known Melbourne Cup horse-race). I haven’t been to any functions.
“In fact, I spent a lot of the first week just sleeping. I felt a bit washed out after the Commonwealth Games, both physically and mentally. The whole point has been to rest and recover.
“It’s been a season when I’ve looked forward to the break a little more than usual. The break has been mentally refreshing, which is what I needed.
“How I feel about my end-of-season break depends on what has happened. If it’s been a year without any injury problems or niggles, then it’s pretty easy.
“Other times, I feel like I need to rest and recover to a greater extent. But I’ve been making sure I get to the gym once a day.
“For the rest of the time I’ve been catching up with my family and friends. I’ve been away so long, that’s what I’ve been missing.
“Any time I come back to Melbourne now is busy, because my family is there and I’m now living in Perth. But to be here after such a long time away is great.
“Overall, I’m happy with the way I handled 2010. I feel like it was a big effort to get through it.
“There were definitely some disappointing results, but my results early in the year showed I could get good performances when I had a good preparation and the performances later showed me I could turn things around when it wasn’t going as well.
“Of course, the Diamond League will continue in 2011 and 2012 as we get back into the major championships cycle. I’m not sure how I’m going to handle that. When I get back to Perth at the end of next week, I will be sitting down with Alex (Parnov) and planning out how we attack it.
Steve
“I think the continuing emergence of guys like Renaud (Lavillenie) and Malte Mohr has been notable this year. It’s going to be interesting to see how they go next year. They’ve got the European Indoors at the start of 2011.
“They’re young, talented vaulters. Having those sort of rivals around keeps me motivated.
“I found 2010 a very different year, with my major goals (World Indoors and Commonwealth Games) at either end of the inaugural Diamond League season. It was a year to which I had a lower-key approach, and that was probably reflected in some of my results.
“As a whole, though, I think it will make me approach 2011 and 2012 with still more intensity and a desire to get good results.
“Since I got home from Delhi I’ve been in Melbourne. I’ve been doing very little, I didn’t go to the Cup (the world-known Melbourne Cup horse-race). I haven’t been to any functions.
“In fact, I spent a lot of the first week just sleeping. I felt a bit washed out after the Commonwealth Games, both physically and mentally. The whole point has been to rest and recover.
“It’s been a season when I’ve looked forward to the break a little more than usual. The break has been mentally refreshing, which is what I needed.
“How I feel about my end-of-season break depends on what has happened. If it’s been a year without any injury problems or niggles, then it’s pretty easy.
“Other times, I feel like I need to rest and recover to a greater extent. But I’ve been making sure I get to the gym once a day.
“For the rest of the time I’ve been catching up with my family and friends. I’ve been away so long, that’s what I’ve been missing.
“Any time I come back to Melbourne now is busy, because my family is there and I’m now living in Perth. But to be here after such a long time away is great.
“Overall, I’m happy with the way I handled 2010. I feel like it was a big effort to get through it.
“There were definitely some disappointing results, but my results early in the year showed I could get good performances when I had a good preparation and the performances later showed me I could turn things around when it wasn’t going as well.
“Of course, the Diamond League will continue in 2011 and 2012 as we get back into the major championships cycle. I’m not sure how I’m going to handle that. When I get back to Perth at the end of next week, I will be sitting down with Alex (Parnov) and planning out how we attack it.
Steve