News04 Mar 2004


Transcript of IAAF Press Conference

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Allen Johnson (USA) in action in the heats of the men's 60m Hurdles (© Getty Images)

On the eve of the 10th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Budapest, the IAAF held its traditional press conference.

800m Olympic, World Indoor and outdoor champion Maria Mutola (MOZ), High Hurdles World Indoor and outdoor champion Allen Johnson (USA), Two-time High Jump World Indoor champion Stefan Holm (SWE), the longest Triple Jumper in 2003 Yamile Aldama (SUD), and National 1500m record holder Judit Varga (HUN) attended the press conference.

Maria Mutola (MOZ)
Defending 800m champion

“The Indoor season is very important to me. Indoors is just as important as the outdoors and I really wouldn’t want to miss it."

“I was very disappointed when I fell at the Birmingham meeting. Not just about the fall but also about the hip injury that resulted. After that I decided to take a week off and flew back to South Africa. I wasn’t sure whether I was going to recover in time or not, I wasn’t sure if I could compete here in Budapest. But the time off and the people back home did a great job and I am now looking forward to defending my title."

“I knew that if my hip didn’t get better I wouldn’t have been able to compete. I knew I had to take time off and I am glad I did. I am happy my hip healed on time and I am happy to be here."

“I want to win all the time so I was not happy about falling in Birmingham. I am just happy that it didn’t happen in a championships race."

“It was one of those things that happen. Indoors the bends are tight and you don’t have a lot of space. I just caught Kelly’s (Holmes) heels and fell very badly. After that there was nothing I could do, I couldn’t have just got back up. The race was gone."

“Now I am ok. The last two track sessions have been very good and I’m confident about the outcome of the championships.”

Allen Johnson (USA)
Defending 60m Hurdles champion

“What do I expect from these championships? To be honest with you I just want to see how my training is working. I have been training very hard and I want to see if it’s going to pay off. Obviously if everything goes to plan I should be winning the race."

“The competition will be very tough. There is Liu Xiang who has been running very well. Maurice Wignall and Duane Ross of the United States will also make the competition very tough."

“I am not thinking about retirement just yet. I think I have quite a few years in my body.”

Yamile Aldama (SUD)
2003 Triple Jump World best performer

“I am very happy to be here. I trained very hard last year but couldn’t compete and that was very frustrating. I just want to enjoy my competition here in Budapest. The fact that I am here is important not just for me but for the sport itself."

“Sudan gave me a chance and I took it. It is not fair to train so hard and not be able to compete."

“Competing for Sudan is going to be a good thing. It’s good for me because I am given a chance to be at the major championships and it’s good for the country because they might get someone winning a medal at a major competition."

“It is definitely going to take a 15-metre jump to win here in Budapest. I am feeling very well, let’s just see what happens."

“A World record? Probably! There is no other way you can win the title!”

Stefan Holm
Defending High Jump champion

“I know I have had a very good indoor season so far and I will be trying to jump even higher this weekend. I don’t want to put any pressure on me, I know what I have to do and I will try and do it."

“A third consecutive title would be very special but the competition will be very tough. I have tried to clear 2.40m 15 times already this season and not managed it once. Maybe it will just take that one single try this weekend!"

Judit Varga (HUN)
National 1500m record holder

“I am very happy that the championships are held in Budapest. I hope the competition will be very successful for me and for everyone else. I have very happy memories of previous big championships held in Hungary and I am sure the crowd will help me. I will try my best and make them happy."

“I am a very big fan of Maria Mutola. She really impresses me. She’s a great example for the sport and for me in particular. She is so good that I am sure she doesn’t need to train as hard as she says she does!”

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