IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final press conference quotes

The IAAF Press Conference on the eve of the 6th IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final was held today at the Mercedes Benz Arena.

In attendance were IAAF Senior Vice President Sergey Bubka; IAAF General Secretary Pierre Weiss;  Dr. Wolfgang Schuster, Lord Mayor of the City of Stuttgart; Andreas Kroll, Managing Director; and Rolf Schneider, General Secretary World Athletics Final.

The athletes in attendance were:

Stephanie Brown-Trafton (USA) - Olympic champion in the Discus Throw; Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) – Olympic and World champion in 400m; Lolo Jones (USA) – 100m Hurdles World leader and 60m Hurdles World Indoor Champion; and Alexander Straub (GER) – German Pole Vault top performer of the year.

Christine Ohuruogu (GBR)

As Olympic champion, how important is this race as a set-up for next year?

I think it’s really important. I treat each race individually. Each race is a stepping stone to the next race. You never go into a race knowing you’re not going to do well. Every race is always going on, to look forward to the next race and the next championship.

On coping with pressure -

I separate pressure from myself. I don’t allow pressure to get to me. If there’s going to be pressure it’s going to be the pressure I put on myself, my expectations, not anyone else’s. If I know that I’ve prepared and that I’ve done all my training, there’s not really much more you can ask of yourself. And that’s how I cope. I just know that I’ve done all my work.

On preparing your own race

I think that especially in the 400 you have to maintain your own race. It’s a long way around and anything can happen. I think it helps because I train by myself. It gives me the confidence to know what I can do when I’m under pressure. It doesn’t matter what other people do. I know what I can do. And I know that I can deliver when I’m really put under pressure. And for me it’s about running your own race and having the confidence of running your own race.

Stephanie Brown Trafton (USA)

On her surprise performance in Beijing -

I knew I had a lot of potential to medal. My first throw was actually the farthest throw of the competition. I didn’t know if that throw would hold out for the gold medal but I knew it was potentially a medal. I knew I had the potential. But historically U.S. throwers had not done well at the big meets, and I hope that this gives the U.S. throwers confidence going into next year’s World championships.

On appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show soon upon returning from Beijing

The track & field team was definitely well represented on the show. The rest of the (Olympic) teams didn’t even go down to Oprah to say hi, so when everyone came I told everyone that they should go down and cheer. I did a cartwheel when I got on stage (laughs). I think I get a little crazy when the cameras are on.

On handling pressure -

I actually deal with pressure as being the underdog. So the rest of the entire next four years is going to be a challenge. It’s going to be a challenge because I’ve never had the pressure of being on top. That’s probably even more pressure. My old story was that I liked being an underdog. I have to write a new story for the rest of my career. And I really look forward to writing another story.

Lolo Jones (USA)

On how Hurricane Gustav affected her family in the U.S.

Gustav affected me before the Lausanne race, that’s maybe why I didn’t run well there. It was all a bit crazy, they didn’t have electricity, standing in line for three hours in a grocery store just isn’t fun for any family. But everything’s fine, the house is ok. It’s a little bit messed up, but it’s livable and they’re ok. So I was a little bit off for the Lausanne race.

On spending a few days in New York last weekend, watching the U.S. Open

The trip to New York was mainly for me to get refocused. I went to the US Open and saw a great match between Venus (Williams) and (Jenlena) Jankovic. It just really inspired me because that was the first time I stepped out the track and field box and watched other female athletes competing. And they were going at each other!

So it was good to see others competing and I was asking, ‘How do they inspire themselves? How do the come up from when they’re down and defeated?’ I actually feel reenergized even though is the end of the season. I feel like I have a little bounce in my step. I’m really ready to go.

I’ve always said that I’m inspired by defeat but after the Olympics, I don’t know! It’s kind of hard to follow those words. I’ve had many ups and many downs in track and field and in life. I’ve really learned that when life beats you down that you learn so many lessons from it and it really makes you a stronger person. Your character grows. And you just come back and do something unbelievable.

On how to cope with pressure

I’ve been an underdog for three years then I had a month at the top. And at the worst possible time to be at the top, just before an Olympic Games (laughs). I had experience with this. I’ve been to Golden League meets before, I’ve been to World Championships before, I had experience. So I just kept telling myself that I’ve been running against these same girls for three years now and that there’s not anything different. I thought I did good until that ninth hurdle! (laughs)

Despite her disappointment in Beijing (where she was seventh), was the season a success?

It’s kind of like if you’re in school and get an A+ on every quiz, every homework assignment, every test. And at the end of the year you take that final exam and you completely bomb it. So no, I don’t think of it as a success. I take it a stepping stone, I have so many things to learn, and that I’ll come back next year and ace the class.

Alexander Straub (GER)

On competing in Stuttgart after watching the 1993 World championships in Stuttgart at age 10

Yes it’s like a dream becoming reality. I’m really glad to be here. I was here in 1993 watching the decathlon, and watched Sergey Bubka jump six metres. And I decided that I would compete at a high level. And now 15 years later, it was a long way, a hard way, I worked really hard, and now I’m here.

On finishing fourth at the Germany championships, later improving to 5.81, but not going to Beijing

Frustrating? Why? It was hard to watch Beijing on TV, but on the other hand I had a great season. I improved my PB to 5.81 by about 10 centimetres. And I won a lot of meets. I did well in big meets in London, Lausanne and Paris. So I think I’m really positive about the season.

On the 2009 World Championships in Berlin

Of course I’m looking forward to it. I take this season as a good one, the key now is to remain healthy. So if I remain healthy I can improve. So that’s the goal for next season. But the first goal is the World Athletics Final on Sunday. 

On coping with pressure -

There’s no pressure. It’s all just motivation being here.

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Earlier in the morning, Olympic Pole Vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) and former 100m World record holder Asafa Powell (JAM) spoke with local media at the Europa, the athletes’ hotel.

Asafa Powell

On his expectations for Saturday’s race -

In the shape I’m in right now, I feel I’m going to run very fast.

On the possibilities of breaking Usain Bolt’s 9.69 World record

I’m not thinking about the world record. Whatever happens, happens. It’s going to come soon. Maybe tomorrow, maybe another day, maybe next year.

On his rivalry with Usain Bolt -

It’s very exciting. Right now is the most I’ve really enjoyed the sport so much. To have someone from Jamaica who’s so fast to run against is very exciting. It motivates me to go and train harder than ever before. I’m really excited about it.

On the limits in the 100m

When I ran 9.74 I thought it would be 9.69. Then when Usain ran 9.69 after stopping 20 metres before the finish (laughs), it’s obviously possible to go even faster. Wherever Usain takes it, I’ll be there right with him.

I think 9.6 is possible. I think next year you’ll see 9.5. (Here, he wasn’t referring to himself specifically, but to the event in general).

Yelena Isinbayeva

On her expectations this weekend –

I hope that I can show a good results. I’m a little afraid because I got sick at the beginning of this week (a slight cold and fever). I felt a little weak, not like I usually feel before a competition. But I want to do really well tomorrow since it’s the last official competition of my season.

On the possibility of another World record -

First I will try to win, because I know the other girls are in shape. After that, we will see.

On how much of a role weather conditions play in the Pole Vault -

Probably about 90%. If it’s raining it’s almost impossible to jump. It rains in your eye, and it’s dangerous as well because the grip can be very slippery.

NB: Sanya Richards (USA), an Olympic gold medallist in the 4x400m Relay and defending World Athletics Final champion, was scheduled to attend the main press conference, but was forced to cancel due to illness.

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF