Anna Chicherova (Russia) (© Nikolai Ivanov)
10 July
We arrived in Rome for the Golden Gala. It is the first time I am in Rome. It is a great city. We walked through the centre of the city and I was very much impressed by its famous monuments, palaces and architecture.
It is a pity that I have no time today to visit the Vatican and the Coliseum. I am afraid that tomorrow I’ll get no chance to make a trip into the city before the competition. I tried to do some shopping, because I like Italian fashion. We were looking for the sales but couldn’t find them.
After this trip, I understand why they say Rome is one the most beautiful places in the world.
11 July
Today I was very near to jump 2.00m on the third attempt. But I failed and ended up in seventh place with 7 athletes all clearing 1.97m.
May be the problem was that my coach Yevgeniy Zagorulko wasn’t there. He’s the one who always helps me correct my mistakes during the competitions.
And I was surprised that Kajsa Bergqvist jumped only 1.94m. The situation in the women’s high jump is rather unstable now and unpredictable. I liked this competition mainly because it was in Rome and I got a chance to attend an old Olympic stadium with the magnificent great statues around it.
14 July
I was asked to participate in the championships of Russian Army which take place tomorrow in Moscow. I‘ll be participating for the team of North Caucasian command.
Today in the evening I got a feeling that I can show a good result. As usual I had weight training and then ran in the forest. I did not do anything special but I feel that I am in good form.
And I know that tomorrow my coach will be at the stadium and he will help me. I am told that there is no need to jump very high tomorrow. So I am a little bit confused and do not know what result I must try to achieve.
15 July
It was really very easy to jump 1.92m for my team today. I could have stopped the contest but my coach saw that I was in good form and he told me to take some more jumps.
I jumped 1.94, 1.97 and 2.00. I was ready to continue and it is clear that I was very close to my top form. But 2.00m was enough for the day and our test was clearly a success.
I know that it is always easy to jump when there is no stress and big responsibility, but the main thing is the support from the coach. It still rather difficult to compete without him like I did at the one-day meetings. Now I must use every opportunity to have as many good jumps as possible.
It was so strange that there were no spectators at today’s competition at one of Luzhniki stadiums. It looked like in our country only athletes and their friends are coming to the competitions. May be people do not know at all about our meetings. At the same time I see big crowds at the permit meetings abroad…maybe we should promote the Russian meetings better
17 July
I continue my preparation at Podolsk sports camp. There are very good conditions and I admire Russian nature around our base. Raining has stopped and the weather is wonderful. It is sunny and warm. There are mushrooms and different berries in the forest.
But there no much time for the walk in the forest. Now with every day I think more and more about the big competitions which are ahead. First of all I must be ready for the national championships in Tula to be selected in the team for the World Championships.
Anna
