Já a croata Blanka Vlasic, de 24 anos, reina no salto em altura. Embora ela ainda não detenha o recorde mundial (de 2,09m, que dura desde 1987 e pertence à búlgara Stefka Kostadinova), ela domina a modalidade atualmente, sendo a atual campeã mundial indoor (título obtido ano passado em Osaka, Japão) e outdoor (este ano, em Valencia, Espanha). Além dos títulos e da competência, Blanka chama a atenção pelo tipo físico. Bela e com 1,93m, ela é mais alta que a maioria dos atletas da modalidade, homens inclusive, mas consegue uma enorme elasticidade na hora dos saltos. Além disso, é carismática e conquista o público especialmente com suas "danças de comemoração" após os recordes. Sua melhor marca é de 2,07cm, e muitos apostam que ela possa igualar ou mesmo bater a marca de Kostadinova nas Olimpíadas.
Vale a pena admirar as duas em Pequim:)
Abaixo, a matéria da IAAF, em inglês, onde ambas falam de suas expectativas e da pressão que sofrem por resultados em Pequim, e também sobre a Golden League, um conjunto de torneios que, caso o atleta vença todas as etapas, dá um prêmio de 1 milhão de dólares. Yelena garantiu seu cheques ano passado, e Blanka Vlasic ficou por pouco.
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Thursday, 10 July 2008
Isinbayeva and Vlasic deny the pressure of Beijing expectations - ÅF Golden League, Rome
Rome, Italy – Yelena Isinbayeva and Blanka Vlasic, two of the greatest ever exponents of jumping, did their very best to relax at today’s press conference held ahead of tomorrow’s ‘28th Golden Gala Kinder+Sport’, the third fixture of the six meet ÅF Golden League 2008.
With the Olympic Games looming they expelled any notion that they were under pressure and explained how they combat the expectations of others.
Olympic and World Pole Vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS)2007 Golden League Jackpot winner
To the surprise of the room the Russian World record holder in the women’s Pole Vault gave her first answers in fluent Italian which led to round of applause from the packed press conference room.
Isinbayeva’s time training in Formia, Italy, has paid off linguistically but it will only be tomorrow that we will discover if her competitive form has benefitted similarly in what will be her first meeting of this outdoor season.
Why such a late start to the season?
“I usually start my season in July, so I have not begun any later than usual. Last year only because of the Golden League I started in June but this year the Pole Vault is not one of the Jackpot events and so I am following my normal schedule.”
“I need two months to prepare (for a championship) and so while it’s late for many for me the beginning of July is good, it’s the perfect start.”
How have you been since we last saw you compete in Valencia?
“This year I feel much better than last, and also much better than this winter (indoor season). I do not know what happened to me in Valencia (retained World Indoor title) as I was ready to set a new World indoor record. It was not a technical problem, it was a psychological problem I guess?!”
But this summer I am composed and confident, and looking forward to starting my season tomorrow and keeping at a high level all year.”
Psychological problem? Well, I don’t mean by that there was anything especially wrong with me, perhaps I was just extra nervous (in Valencia), I felt the pressure more, because I had to defend my title and everyone as always expected me to win with a world record. This for some reason disturbed me more than ever but now I am fine.”
Your rivals are coming closer to 5m, does this concern you?
“I am happy that my rivals are so high this year as it will help me to jump much higher this year. It doesn’t disturb me.”
“Remember there are many men who jump 6m to 6.04m which brings them very close to 6.15 (outright world record) but while they are close its doesn’t mean they are ever likely to jump 6.15m!”
Pressure of Olympics?
“The Russian (Athletics) Federation President Valentin Balakhnichev once said to me about pressure: ‘Its just important to stay quiet, be quiet and just do your job as good as you can’, and that advice has always been very good for me. I know everyone believes in me but I do not let them rush or push me.”
“I will go to Fukuoka with the Swedish team to prepare for two weeks before Beijing, coming to the Games only on 14 August.”
World High Jump champion Blanka Vlasic (Croatia)2008 ÅF Golden League Jackpot contender
“The meetings of the Golden League are always a big challenge for me, especially Rome because I like to jump here, it’s a beautiful stadium, and the surface (jumping) is good for me. It’s also close to my home and the mentality (of the people) is the same. All these factors make me look forward to jumping here, and if I can continue to jump my usual level of results I will be happy.”
The World record?
“The questions about the World record keep coming and my answers are basically the same all the time.”
“I try not to put myself under that sort of pressure. I enjoy every competition, I enjoy my jumping and even opportunity I have to jump 2.10 (World record is 2.09) but I think I have enough time to break it the World record and do not need to rush things. This is my time and I’m trying to enjoy every minute of it. Of course it’s a big challenge and I will do my best but I can’t tell you when or where.”
“Stefka (Kostadinova) made her own history, and I am making my own history. I admire her and the fact that the World record was made in this stadium but it does not change a thing in my motivation about jumping here (Rome).
“Before each competition I have the same ritual and compose myself to jump well but such thoughts (about World record being set in the stadium) do not come into my preparations.”
Her dance of joy after each success. Why did this type of celebration start only last year in Rome?
“Last year in Rome I felt very relaxed, and just guess that’s why it happened. Rome is one of my favourite meets.”
Her rivals
“They have just started their seasons, they are not yet strong and I expect much more from them.”
Pressure of Olympics
“The pressure has grown as my results have grown but I just take one competition at a time and only when I get to China will I think about the Olympics.”
“I will travel to China like I did before last year’s Worlds (Osaka), 10 days before qualification.”
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Abaixo, ambas em ação:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxvBscDGGBM - Isinbayeva bate o recorde mundial, chegando a 5,01m, em Helsinque, em 2005.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrMb5y-Cia8 - Vlasic salta 2,05m e conquista o Mundial de Osaka, em 2007.
2 comentários:
AWESOME PERFORMANCE by YELENA!
for 3000+ PHOTOS - YELENAI.BRAVEHOST.COM
Yelena Isinbaeva - Golden Gala 2008 World Record - 5.03 - SUMMARY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2G48-EUS3Rs
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
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