Jolanda Ceplak (SLO) - 800m heats (© Getty Images)
Preparing to commence her indoor campaign here in tonight’s meeting, women’s World Indoor 800m record holder Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia talked buoyantly this morning about her hopes for 2004 – her winter’s training, the World Indoor championships in Budapest (5 - 7 March 2004), and of course this summer’s Athens Olympics.
"With the Olympics on the horizon, this could be my best season yet. Of course I will never forget 2002, particularly Vienna when I won the European Indoor Championships and set the World 800 metres record (1:55.82). I am always pleased to read about the race in which I beat Stephanie Graf (Austria) by a less than half-a-stride and 0.03 seconds, which has been acknowledged as one of the greatest races of all-time.”
"Winning the European outdoor title later that summer was much easier but you still undergo the tension beforehand that someone might spring a surprise on you.”
2003 - ruined by too much training
"Naturally, last year following my triumphs (in 2002), much was expected but for a variety of reasons, I failed to re-enact those performances in the 2003 World indoor and outdoor championships in Birmingham and Paris. Now I want to forget about the past and concentrate on the future and in particular this year's Olympic Games.”
"When I started training again at the end of October, I didn't want to think about Paris or any of the meetings that followed. I immediately became totally focused on the forthcoming World Indoor Championships in March - my first target of the year - and then after that I will prepare intensely for the Olympic Games.“
"My recollection of last year is that I probably did too much training in the winter which made me physically ill, and was the reason I picked up a calf injury when competing at Gateshead in July, prior to the World Championships. I trained too hard and the injury never went away. Now it is all history."
”Commencing my preparations for this year, I was adamant that I would remain relaxed and definitely not over train. I've learned from my mistakes and when I start feeling really tired I now stop and rest. I'm doing what my body tells me and everything is progressing as I expected."
”At the end of November I went for a month's training in the United States. Everything went really well thanks to the help and co-operation of the people at the University of South California in Los Angeles.”
Mutola
”Returning home I have of course been thinking of the challenges ahead, particularly the World Indoors which are almost upon us and very much also the Olympic Games.
However, there have been no thoughts about my rivals for the title, whether it be Maria Mutola or any of the other top 800 metres runners. This is the only distance I will contest this year.”
"Maria is a great athlete, but I have to believe she is beatable and one day it is going to happen whether indoors or out. I will be trying my best.” (note. Ceplak last beat Mutola on 10 Feb 2002).
”This year I just want to win against everybody - but if somebody is better I can only say 'congratulations', and try and defeat them next time."
Training and competition - Budapest and beyond
”After returning from the USA, I trained in Celje where I live, and then went for a another couple of days to Medulin in Croatia which has good facilities. In preparation for the World Indoors, I'm competing at German events in Erfut and Dortmund and then probably Ghent in early February. I always like to start at a small meeting to get the feel of racing again because you never know how you will run your first race. Then before the World Indoors in Budapest, it will be back to Vienna for the harder sessions and again training at home in Celje.”
"I will not be sure of my outdoor schedule for another two or three weeks. "I haven't looked for any races yet. Last summer I ran only six races before the World Championships. Right now I'm not nervous about the Olympic Games but when I start the summer races and Athens gets closer and closer, I'm sure I will be. “
”I am determined to win the gold medal there - I don't want to have to wait another four years.”
Jolanda Ceplak, was talking to PA International's athletics correspondent David Martin.
