Kim Gevaert retains her 60m title in Madrid (© Getty Images)
Cautious optimism was the prevailing mood among several athletes expected to play key roles at the 19th European Athletics Championships that begin tomorrow in this western Swedish coastal city.
Obikwelu ‘very ready’
A busy week for Francis Obikwelu begins on day one as the Portuguese embarks on his 100 metre title defence.
“It’s going to be a very tough task,” said the 27-year-old Olympic silver medallist in the event. “I’ve got to take it easy with eight races in four days, and there’s no rest day. I think that in the final I can run under 10 seconds. Then I’ll have to take it easy again in the 200, but I hope I can be ready to run under 20 seconds in the 200 metre final.”
With bests of 10.03 and 20.18 this season, Obikwelu is the fastest in Europe this year, but refuses to take on the role of man to beat.
“I don’t like talking about being the favourite. Anything can happen on the track. So you just have to get ready for any situation. And I’m very ready. I think I’m in good shape, the same or even better than in Athens.”
Double duty for Gevaert as well
After producing a pair of national records – 11.04 and 22.20 – four weeks ago, Kim Gevaert too has double dash ambitions, hoping to move up a step from her double silver performance in Munich four years ago.
“I think four years ago was my first year to step into a situation where I could get medals,” Gevaert, who celebrated her 28th birthday yesterday, said. “I was more of an underdog. Four years later I have all this pressure.”
But the pressure of being the fastest in the field is something she hopes to use to her advantage.
“I can cope well with it and it brings out the best in me,” she said. While injuries have sidelined a number of the continent’s fastest women, Gevaert is still expecting stiff competition.
“I expect the Russian athletes to be very good,” she said, but also added that she looks forward to competing against sprint legend Merlene Ottey, who makes her first European Championships appearance for her adopted Slovenia.
“She’s a very nice lady and someone I really look up to,” said Gevaert, who was barely six when Ottey won her first Olympic bronze medal in 1984. “I think it’s great that she’s here. There aren’t too many people who can do this sport for such a long time. I admire that she still has the motivation and can still do it with the same joy. That’s very admirable.”
Slesarenko prepared for stiff high jump competition
Even with several major titles under her belt, Olympic High Jump champion Yelena Slesarenko emphasized that this competition is just as important to her as others.
I don’t only like to the Olympic champion and the world indoor champion,” said Slesarenko. “I want to be the European champion as well.”
The 24-year-old Russian, who missed most of last season with injury and has a sole two metre clearance to her credit this season, said she’s well prepared for the stiff competition.
“I expect that four of us will be at two metres.” But she stopped short of singling out anyone in particular as the woman to beat. “Everybody’s come here to win.”
Jeng hopeful for home appearance
World indoor Pole Vault silver medallist Alhaji Jeng of Sweden is also taking a cautious approach, hoping first and foremost that he’ll actually be able to compete in the stadium that 11 years ago inspired him to pursue the sport.
Jeng, who grew up Gothenburg, took up the sport after watching World record holder Sergey Bubka soar to his fifth world title in 1995.
I’m trying to be optimistic and I really hope that I can start,” said Jeng, referring to a hamstring injury that’s kept him on the sidelines in recent weeks. “I know I’m in good shape, and hope that even though I haven’t jumped in a few weeks that that shape will stay.”
Competition at Ullevi Stadium begins on 10:05 Monday morning with the qualifying round of the men’s Shot Put. The evening session includes the finals of the men’s Shot Put and the women’s 10,000 metres.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
