Fabiana Murer at the pre-meet press conference in Stockholm (© Bob Ramsak)
Stockholm, SwedenThe preevent press conference for the DN Galan Samsung Diamond League meeting saw a host of world class performers comment on their season so far. Here are a selection of their views.
Christian Olsson, Sweden, Triple Jump
"I was close to being able to compete in the European Championships – I gave my injured heel a test about a week before the competition started. But I didn’t really dare to put pressure on my heel, and I was only jumping 15-16 metres, so I didn’t feel the confidence to compete in a major championship. So I am coming here to do my best, but also to try and avoid another injury."
Andreas Thorkildsen, Norway, Javelin Throw
“Tero and I are rivals, but away from the track we have become good friends. You get to know other athletes when you are travelling on the circuit, and Tero and I have been going around together for five or six years. We are old. I’m in good shape. I have got the stadium record here, and it would be nice to put it up a bit.”
Tero Pitkamaki, Finland, Javelin Throw
“This will be my first time competing in Stockholm, but I know that Andreas has done well here before, so it has to be a good place to throw. I also heard there is a very good crowd, and a very good atmosphere, so I am looking forward to competing here.”
Allyson Felix, United States, 200m
“I surprised myself a little bit here last year when I ran the stadium record of 21.88. I hope to have another really good run here tomorrow. It would be really cool to get another stadium record – I would love to have a season’s best. That is my main focus this season – although a diamond is always a great motivation! I also want to run the 400metres a little bit more to get more comfortable with that as well.”
Fabiana Murer, Brazil, Pole Vault
“I’m very happy with my season this year. I think it will be a hard competition for me in Stockholm and my target is to achieve my personal best, which is 4.85m. I am not so fast and so strong, but I have a good technique. I have to work even harder on it if I want to jump higher this season.”
Carolina Kluft, Sweden, Long Jump
“I’ve worked really, really hard to compete again after my injury and it was a big boost to jump 6.62 at the Europeans. I still have a long way to go – I’m a little bit more than halfway to being back in shape. But it’s still like a Lottery when you have an injury because you never know how you will feel when you don’t have the training behind you. But I will be trying my best tomorrow.”
Mike Rowbottom for the Samsung Diamond League
Christian Olsson, Sweden, Triple Jump
"I was close to being able to compete in the European Championships – I gave my injured heel a test about a week before the competition started. But I didn’t really dare to put pressure on my heel, and I was only jumping 15-16 metres, so I didn’t feel the confidence to compete in a major championship. So I am coming here to do my best, but also to try and avoid another injury."
Andreas Thorkildsen, Norway, Javelin Throw
“Tero and I are rivals, but away from the track we have become good friends. You get to know other athletes when you are travelling on the circuit, and Tero and I have been going around together for five or six years. We are old. I’m in good shape. I have got the stadium record here, and it would be nice to put it up a bit.”
Tero Pitkamaki, Finland, Javelin Throw
“This will be my first time competing in Stockholm, but I know that Andreas has done well here before, so it has to be a good place to throw. I also heard there is a very good crowd, and a very good atmosphere, so I am looking forward to competing here.”
Allyson Felix, United States, 200m
“I surprised myself a little bit here last year when I ran the stadium record of 21.88. I hope to have another really good run here tomorrow. It would be really cool to get another stadium record – I would love to have a season’s best. That is my main focus this season – although a diamond is always a great motivation! I also want to run the 400metres a little bit more to get more comfortable with that as well.”
Fabiana Murer, Brazil, Pole Vault
“I’m very happy with my season this year. I think it will be a hard competition for me in Stockholm and my target is to achieve my personal best, which is 4.85m. I am not so fast and so strong, but I have a good technique. I have to work even harder on it if I want to jump higher this season.”
Carolina Kluft, Sweden, Long Jump
“I’ve worked really, really hard to compete again after my injury and it was a big boost to jump 6.62 at the Europeans. I still have a long way to go – I’m a little bit more than halfway to being back in shape. But it’s still like a Lottery when you have an injury because you never know how you will feel when you don’t have the training behind you. But I will be trying my best tomorrow.”
Mike Rowbottom for the Samsung Diamond League
