Natalya Dobrynska sets yet another PB in the heptathlon, this time in the 200m (© Getty Images)
Olympic Heptathlon champion Natalia Dobrynska from Ukraine is going to have a new country house, and in the meanwhile is driving her new Jaguar car on the streets of Kiev and is looking forward to the indoor season.
"After the Olympics there was so much celebration in my home country I hardly had any time to train. I started my season preparations later than usual, but still I did not have any doubts I wish to compete indoors. It's sports, and I wish to stay in it as long as I can, and win as much as I can. My motivation and all my sports hunger from the Olympics are still with me. I did not have to push myself to get back to training; I just wanted it with all my heart.
"I really celebrated my Beijing win properly. One of the highlights was the World Athletics Gala in Monaco, which I enjoyed a lot. I also managed to go to Egypt, and it was great fun as I love sea and sun. Apart from this, there were just endless interviews and TV shows. So many newspapers and TV channels wanted to see me; it was amazing but a bit tiring.
"You know what; I now have a state order! Ukrainian president Viktor Yuschenko awarded me with an order "Of merit before the homeland" of the 3rd grade. We also had an official reception with the Prime Minister Yuliya Timoshenko, and also I had such a special meet in my home town Vinnitsa. People were out on the streets, everyone wishing me success and so happy. It is really one of my precious moments now.
"Do you want to know about the material side of being an Olympic champion? Ok, I have something to talk about. The sports club "Kolos" which I have been representing for the last 18 years presented me with a Jaguar XS, black colour. Now I drive it on the streets of Kiev, it is just so cool! I'd like to test how fast the car can go, but we have such busy traffic it's practically impossible.
"Also I've been given a new one-bedroom flat in Kiev. Maybe it is not that big, but it is in the capital and that makes me happy. I now live a little bit outside of the city, and it's nice to have a place where I can stay in Kiev.
"Finally, there is a story to tell. One of the Ukrainian businessmen before the Olympics promised, that if any of our athletes won a gold medal in Beijing, he would buy him or her a country house. It seemed almost certain that we would not get any gold medal in athletics, so maybe he thought he was not risking anything. Who could have imagined that I was going to win?! Now I will have to buy a piece of land, and he will build a house on it. Actually you don't even have to build it, the house is ready, it is transported from Germany in small pieces and then it takes a few days to make it set on my piece of land. To tell you the truth, I have already put my eye on the land I'd like to buy. But I will have to wait until the spring, because it's impossible to bring the house when it is cold outside and the ground is frozen.
"Still, back to athletics, I will not have much time to think about houses and Jaguar cars this winter. I have a busy schedule with the first meet - the Russian winter in Moscow on February, 1, where I will do a long jump. I am also planning to compete at the European Indoors in Torino, but I am still not certain what to do there – either the Pentathlon or just choose one event. We'll see what shape I’ll be in!"
Natalia
Editor's note: Dobrynska finished fifth with a best mark of 6.30m in the Long Jump competition at the Russian Winter last Sunday.
