20th March 2012 02:28
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| Alex Schwazer of Italy. |
The 2008 Olympic Games 50km walk champion smashed his own Italian record for the shorter championship walking distance of 20km by almost a minute when he crossed the line in 1:17:30.
It was the sixth best performance ever and only 14 seconds shy of the ratified world record of Russia's Viktor Kanaykin.
The 27-year-old, who also got the 2010 European Athletics Championships silver medal, afterwards talked to the Italian federation website www.fidal.it about the race and his Olympic preparations.
Q: Truthfully, did everything go as planned in Lugano?
A: No, no, seriously; when Michele (Didoni, his coach) asked me to make a prediction about my time for this race, I wrote 1:18:30. I wanted to try to make an Italian record but it's unbelievable that I raced almost a minute faster.
Q: So your time was unexpected?
A: Yes, but only in part. We had planned for me to have my first peak of the year around this time and then my second peak is planned for the Olympics. However, I'm in good shape, very good. Recently, I have worked hard, with a very high intensity, so basically it is not so strange that I managed to get a time like this.
Q: The final quarter of the race was amazing: 18:58 for the last 5km, 3:33 in the last 1000 metres. What happened there?
A: I must say I was helped very much by the Frenchman (two-time European 50km champion Yohann) Diniz. When he came back to me, we were right at the critical stage of the race, the one that goes from 12 to 17 kilometres. Racing next to him gave me the energy to keep up the pace.
Q: How will you recover for Saturday, for the 50km in Dudince (the next European Athletics Race Walking Permit Meeting which will be held in the Slovakian spa town on 24 March), where you are aiming to obtain the minimum qualification standard for the Olympic Games?
A: I'm sure there will be no problems to recover because in Dudince I'll be racing calmly, with the only goal of doing what is necessary?
Q: However, you didn't race calmly in Lugano?
A: Ha, ha. In fact, I had set a goal to get an Italian record at one of these two races. Now, that I've already done that, I'll take things a bit more comfortably. I'll go at a good pace, a nice rhythm, but without really pushing it. It would not make sense to do that at this time. I hope Matteo Giupponi can help me to 25km, or maybe 30km, that would be great, after that point, I'll see how I feel.
Q: And you'll face Diniz again (in Dudince)?
A: 'No, Diniz will be there but he will race over 20km, not 50km. We talked, and I understand that he does plan to double over both 20km and 50km in London.
Q: Diniz is thinking about doubling. Do you also plan to do the same?
A: The truth is that I want to do well, to win, at my best distance of 50km. In the past, I've tried to do everything but at this stage of my career, this does not interest me. To double, you must be in an excellent condition, like the one I have now, but then other things need to happen as well. I don't want the pressure, someone like (Poland's Robert) Korzeniowski, when he doubled at the Olympics (in 2000, where he won both gold medals), he could do because he had already won a lot of titles before and nobody would dream of criticizing him. But I will have all eyes on me!
Q: Your coach Didoni says that you are back to your best form because you train, near Milan, in a group where everyone wears a smile. Is this true?
A: Yes, it's true, but it's not only this, of course. For an athlete to go fast, it takes so many things. I am in a good team and they compliment what I am doing. I am also far from home, without distractions of any kind, there is virtually nothing for me to do other than training; and that makes a big difference.
Q: Your enthusiasm for racing also seems to have returned?
A: Yes, of course. Now, everything is nice but I'm trying to keep my feet on the ground as there is still a long way to go to the Olympics. However, I am very satisfied; such results (like in Lugano) give you confidence and moral security.