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| Jack Green (GBR), Adam Kszczot (POL), Teddy Tamgho (FRA), Katerina Cachova (CZE), Jakub Vadlejch (CZE) and Katerina Safrankova (CZE) at the official European Athletics and Ostrava 2011 LOC press conference on Wednesday. |
France’s Teddy Tamgho, Great Britain’s Jack Green, Poland’s Adam Kszczot and the trio from the Czech Republic of Katerina Cachová, Katerina Å afránková and Jakub Vadlejch were at a press conference ahead of the 2011 European Athletics U23 Championships in the Czech city of Ostrava on Wednesday.
Here are excerpts from the press conference with the athletes.
Teddy Tamgho (FRA): 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships triple jump gold medallist and world indoor record holder
How is the season going for you?
It’s been very good so far. I’ve jumped 17.91m [in Lausanne on 30 June]. I wanted also do the long jump here but I decided with my coach to just stay focussed on the triple jump because I wanted to take a gold medal here.
How important is this competition for you?
This is a European championship and even though it’s for under 23 athletes it’s a great, great competition. For me, these Championships are more important than the Diamond League because it is still a championship and I’m after a gold medal.
When did you decide to come to Ostrava for these Championships?
I decided to come here last week, after Lausanne and a competition in France. This is going to be a good preparation for the World Championships in Korea for me because there is qualifications and then a final; it will be very good to see what I can do in this situation.
Did you feel you needed a low pressure competition after always going up against Phillips Idowu and the rest of the best in the world; and Birmingham last weekend didn’t go so well?
No, no, no. I haven’t been on a dip since Lausanne and this isn’t a low pressure competition. There are other jumpers over 17 metres such as the Russians and there is a good Ukrainian. There is also another good Frenchman. There is pressure as it’s a major championship, it’s a different type of pressure when I’m jumping against Phillips, but I like the pressure. When I jump with pressure, I often jump well.
Is an 18-metre jump a possibility here?
Why not? I’m hoping I can do it here but the most important thing is for me to win. However, if I did do an 18-metre jump then I would be very happy, it’s a big barrier at the moment and when I do it [jump over 18 metres] that would mean that I could jump in the future without having that pressure.
You are rather famous for having some sort of special clothing every time you jump, what have you brought here?
Well, this time I’ll be jumping in the French national uniform and that’s all I’ve got apart from my spikes so there’s nothing special; except, maybe, a hat.
Jack Green (GBR): top medal contender for the 400m hurdles, second on the 2011 rankings
How is the season going for you?
Well, I’ve obviously had a great year so far. I’m not going to tell you everything but I know what I’m capable of. Hopefully it will be a big surprise for you [the media] if I can do it.
You are second ranked in Europe but also the second ranked Briton, how does that feel?
Well, I got beaten by Nathan Woodward in the British trials, and it wasn’t the nicest of defeats, but I’ve come back from worse than that; I don’t fear anyone I race against. Here I plan to be first and this time it’ll be second for someone else.
How important is this competition for you?
This is an extremely important competition for me. Hopefully, I’ll go on from here to the World Championships in Daegu. I can see why some people might question its importance but I think the athletes don’t and just seeing Teddy here proves its importance.
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| European indoor 800m champion Adam Kszczot of Poland talks during the press conference. |
Adam Kszczot (POL): 2009 European Athletics Under 23 Championships and 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships 800m gold medallist
How is the season going for you?
At the start of the summer I did my personal best of 1:44.30. Now, this week I will try to do my best at what I think I do best, which is win races.
When did you decide to come to Ostrava for these Championships?
This event has always been part of my preparations for the World Championships in Korea later in the summer. It’s always been on the schedule for this year, it’s important and this championship helps me keep my shape.
You ran well in Ostrava earlier in the season [a Polish 1000m record of 2:66.99] at the Golden Spike meeting in May, what do you think of the atmosphere here?
The atmosphere in Ostrava is really unique. There is no other competition like the Golden Spike meeting, the crowd is packed in the stands, makes a lot of noise, and is very supportive. I hope that there will be a similar feeling at these Championships.
Germany’s Nils Schumann holds the championship record at just outside 1:45, set in 1999. Do you think you will get it?
I didn’t even know that Schumann had the record, I hadn’t checked what the time was but when I won at the last European Athletics Under 23 Championships two years ago I did 1:45.81 so it’s possible but it all depends on what other guys do here.
Katerina Cachová (CZE): 2007 IAAF World Youth Championships heptathlon gold medallist when the event was in Ostrava
What does it mean to you to compete at a championship like this in your home stadium?
I still remember what a great feeling it was to win four years ago here in my home stadium and it was great. This time around, I hope I can do the same. I’ve got lots of tickets for my family and friends and, hopefully, as many of them will come as possible.
You’ve had some injury problems recently. How are you now?
I’m feeling better but I still have problems with my thigh so it is still undecided which will be my lead leg in the hurdles.
Katerina Å afránková (CZE): 2007 European Athletics Junior Championships and 2009 European Athletics Under 23 Championships hammer silver medallist
Three silver medals in three big championships but you’ve always been behind Romania’s Bianca Perie. Have you been looking at what she’s been doing this year?
Of course, I have been watching what she has been doing and I hope I can finally beat her here on home soil. However, I can’t promise anything, but I’m in good condition.
Jakub Vadlejch (CZE): javelin thrower and top Czech medal hope with a best of 84.47m
How has training and your competitions been going so far this season?
I wouldn’t say that I’m very confident but there is no reason why I can’t throw very far. Why I’m saying that is because the javelin is unpredictable, last year I threw almost 85 metres but I haven’t reached that sort of distance so far this year.