Series13 Aug 2007


Dayron Robles: from Pan Am gold to success in Osaka - IAAF Online Diaries

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Dayron Robles of Cuba storms the 110m Hurdles gold in wet conditions in Rio (© AFP / Getty Images)

After claiming his second senior title at the 15th Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, young Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles has entered the final preparation phase towards the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, to be held in Osaka, August 25-September 2.
 
Dayron will be one of the promising athletes to feature in the Japanese city, where he expects to be among the world's best in the highly competitive 110m Hurdles. Here's what the 20-year-old tells us in his August online diary for the IAAF.
 
"Dear IAAF friends,
 
Greetings once again. I'm happy to be back on the IAAF website to update you on my career. Since I last wrote to you, I celebrated my first Pan American title in Rio de Janeiro.

Weather conditions were far from ideal. It rained on the day of the final, but I managed to execute a good race and win in 13.25 seconds, ahead of USA's David Payne (13.43) and my training partner Yoel Hernández (13.50).

I came close to the Games record of 13.17, set by my compatriot Anier Garcia in 1999.

It felt great to make my contribution to my country as we finished on top on the athletics competition and second on the overall medal table, behind the US and closely followed by the host country, Brazil.

Our people followed the Games very closely on TV and the radio. They saw our races live as they did last summer during the Central American and Caribbean Games in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, where I won my first international title.

It is very satisfying to give a victory to our people. I really enjoyed it and then being greeted by family and friends on your return.

We also extended the winning straight of Cuban male sprint hurdlers at the Pan American Games as my compatriots Anier Garcia and Yuniel Hernandez won in Winnipeg 1999 and Santo Domingo 2003.

For my country, it was the most important goal of the year, but we have a major challenge ahead in Osaka.

It will be a different story from Helsinki 2005, when I made my World Championships debut at the age of 18.

Fresh from my Pan American junior championships win in Canada, I stepped on the track for the first time with top hurdlers like Allen Johnson.
 
I finished last in my semi-final, but Osaka will be very different. I have grown up as an athlete although I still have a lot to improve. The 110m Hurdles will be very competitive and anything can happen with Liu Xiang, Ladji Doucouré and the three Americans qualified.

It will also be a different Dayron from the one who won the silver medal at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow, in 2006.

I feel fit and confident for a medal. I want to focus on doing the right things on the track and try to minimize the pressure of a World Championships.

We still have a long way to go before the season is over. I'm happy I achieved one my major goals this season but I have to admit I expected to have a faster time by now.

On the road to Osaka, I will be training with the Cuban team in Alcala de Henares, Spain, before travelling to Osaka well in advance to get used to the time difference. I will not do any race before the Worlds.

After my return from Rio, I only took a day off and continued my training plan for Osaka.

My mom has come to Havana to visit me and it has been a great boost to be with her before I fly to Spain.

Thanks for all your support and I see you in Osaka. Wish me good luck.”

Dayron
 

Click here to read Dayron's previous diaries 

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