Dayron Robles of Cuba after his victory in Gothenburg (© Hasse Sjögren)
Amid the cold temperatures in Europe, Cuban star Dayron Robles has completed the first three competitions of his first full indoor season in 2007, a series which has resulted in him setting curently the world’s fastest time over 60m Hurdles at 7.38.
Two duels with China’s Olympic champion and World record holder Liu Xiang in Germany have highlighted the 20-year-old’s campaign in the cold of Europe, the prelude to another great year for the sprint hurdles this summer.
“I am happy with how my first full indoor season has started. It is different from the summer campaign as we have to cope with the cold temperatures."
“I made my season’s debut on 31 January in Gothenburg, where I posted a world leading time of 7.49. It was my first visit ever to Sweden and I came close to my personal best of 7.46 from my silver medal performance at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Moscow."
“Four days later, I returned to Stuttgart, the city where I equalled my compatriot Anier Garcia’s national and Area 110m Hurdles record of 13.00 to finish runner-up to Liu Xiang at the IAAF World Athletics Final last September."
“That was Xiang’s first race of the season and I felt so good and I was even surprised when I won in 7.38, which was a personal best by a considerable margin.
“That time put me very close to Anier’s national 60m Hurdles record of 7.37, set in 2000, and also placed me among the top-10 on the all-time lists."
“After an eight-day break, I stayed in Germany, this time in Karlsruhe for another epic duel with Xiang. He prevailed this time with an Asian record of 7.42, only two hundredths of a second ahead of me."
“We ran stride for stride over all five hurdles, but Xiang was faster at the finish."
“Despite the cold, I have been running well and also learning some words in Chinese to prepare for the Olympics. I did not have a good sleep the night before the race, but I am happy with the time and how my first full indoor season is going.”
“I have made good relationships with the Chinese. It has been a great experience as I have had to adapt my training indoors."
“These two meetings in Germany have drawn Xiang and me closer. I had a long 2006 season and refused his invitation to race the Shanghai Grand Prix after the World Cup in Athens last September."
“This year will also be long with the Pan American Games, the World Championships and the Golden League on the agenda, but I would like to visit China one year before the Olympics."
“Xiang is easy-going and I am, too. We are rivals on the track, but it is a totally a relaxed atmosphere after the competition ends."
“Xiang is followed by a large contingent. The daughter of a Chinese reporter has started telling me words in Chinese which will be good tips for Beijing like 'nihao' (hello)."
“I plan to run again this Saturday in Birmingham and next week in Stockholm and Athens to finish my indoor campaign. In the meantime, I will be based with the 13-member Cuban athletics team in Alcalá de Henares, near Madrid."
“My coach and I have been invited for a hurdles and sprints clinic in Poitou Charentes, in France, March 10-14.
“I miss the warm weather in Cuba, but this indoor season will help me build up a good base for the demanding outdoor campaign."
"Happy St. Valentine’s Day and wish me all the best in Europe.”
Dayron Robles
Click here to read Dayron' previous diary