Natalya Dobrynska in Kladno (© Jan Kucharcik, www.atletika.cz)
Olympic Heptathlon champion Natalia Dobrynska after her recent win in Kladno relaxed for a few days in Prague and is now ready for the final stage of her preparations for the World Championships.
"Hi everybody,
"I'd like to share with you my perfect mood, as I am fully happy and relaxed. After my recent meeting in Kladno I spent several great days in Prague, just sightseeing and doing nothing. This small vacation was unexpected, which made it even more amazing.
"With my husband Dmitry we were on stop over in Prague airport on the way back to Ukraine. And it just came to me - why should we hurry home if we can make ourselves a small present and see the beautiful city? Anyway after the competition I usually take three or four days rest. And if you don't train, you can make better use of your free time than just sit at home, can’t you? So we changed our tickets to Kiev and spent three more days in Prague.
"It was my first time in Prague, so I was mainly focused on sightseeing. On the first day we were walking together with one of the Czech managers and an athlete from New Zealand who was travelling to the Universiade in Belgrade and also had some free time in between. We saw, for example, a beautiful clock in the centre of the city, with figures that symbolize vanity, greed and other negative qualities, as far as I understand. Of course we walked to the Charles Bridge and all other major tourist attractions.
"On the next day we took a map of the city and explored it on our own. First I was shocked by how many Russians are there. At times I could hardly hear the Czech language, it seemed that everybody was speaking Russian! We were walking and walking all day long, almost without stopping. In a couple of days we saw everything we wanted, and that was nice. Prague is a beautiful city, I was happy I got a chance to be there just as a tourist. Because if you come somewhere for a competition you are focused on different things and don't have many chances to see the city.
"Back to the meeting in Kladno, I wouldn't say that it was perfect. 6249 points is definitely not the result that can make me happy. On the other hand it was raining hard all two days, so it was hardly possible to do much better. And after all, it was just an intermediate competition before the World Champs. I am in full preparation now, and I didn't even expect an extremely high result myself. After all there was no goal to impress. I just wanted to check my shape and point out in which events I may have some problems.
"I had my best result in the javelin, where with the 48.56m throw lacked only 4m to my PB. And you know what? Javelin is the only event where it was not raining! Otherwise it was raining hard all the time. Such weather generally makes me feel a bit depressed.
"The meet organisers in Kladno have been inviting me in the last three years. I never made it before on different reasons, but this year I promised to come and did it. Even in spite of the rain I'd say that the competition was good. You know, there were people in the stands who were staying there both days, under the rain, and cheering up for us. I always feel responsibility when I see someone so much interested in my performance. You just can't do badly if people are staying under the rain and watching you.
"Surprisingly it did not feel any easier in Kladno without serious competition. It was hard to stay focused and not let myself relax. Now I think that in Gotzis where it was much harder competition and I could only take the lead on the second day it was even easier! You know, I always need somebody to keep me going. If I am alone, it's very hard to make myself be serious.
"That’'s actually the reason why some athlete compete better on the national level and some show their best results internationally. World Champs or the Olympics are completely different competitions than the national trials in terms of psychology. For me this additional pressure gives me motivation. It feels difficult, but maybe it is still easier than without pressure at all. Some people on the contrary show their best results at the trials where they are relaxed, and never repeat these points internationally. These are just two different psychological types, you know.
"To go on with the trials theme, I can't but say a few words about the U.S. Champs. Hileas Fountain on the first day was very impressive. I was sorry to hear that she got injured and could not finish the competition. I don't know if this is serious, but I hope maybe Hileas can still make the team and recover before the World Champs.
"I am never afraid of anybody, as I said, the Olympics or the World Champs are a completely different kind of competition, and you can't compare them with the results shown at the trials. I'd just say that Fountain is very strong, and I am happy that I have such strong competitors. It’s not just politics, I am quite honest.
"Actually I now have such serious competition even inside Ukraine that I can't complain. Hanna Melnichenko for example recently set a PB and won the European Cup. I am really happy for Anya as we are good friends. Lyudmila Ossypenko unfortunately could not make it to the European Cup because of the visa problems and now will have to compete at the Ukrainian Champs to book the place in Berlin. I hope everything would be all right and us three will be on the team. Other girls push me be better than I am. I believe that great results should be born in competition.
"I had perfect vacation in Prague, so now I am ready for the final stage of my preparations for the World Champs. There are only 40 days left. Are you surprised that I say "only"? Yes, may be for some people 40 days seem much time, but for me it feels very little. There are so many things to do!
"I'll pay main attention to sprints which were not so good for me this season. And of course I'll still try to keep other events on the same or even higher level. Now I want to cut off all my activities that are not connected with sports and focus only on my training. So for the next month - no vacations, no sightseeing or any outings, only sports and sports!
“Take care"
Natalia
