Athletes warming up for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24
A selection of quotes from athletes training at the Glasgow Arena on Thursday (29), including Miltiádis Tentóglou, Devynne Charlton, Larissa Iapichino, Laviai Nielsen, Mattia Furlani, Pavel Maslák and Jan Štefela.
Miltiádis Tentoglous (GRE) – men’s long jump
On training at the new track at the Glasgow Arena:
“The track is nice for sure. It’s a top tier track. I think it’s the same as in Budapest, so it’s very fast, which is good for long jumpers of course.
“I have great memories of this arena from [the European championships in] 2019. I jumped very well here – 8.38m. It was my personal best at the time [and a national record], and still is one of the best I have jumped so I hope it’s a good sign. I hope I can do better this time.”
On defending his world indoor title:
“It’s very important. I take every competition seriously and I’m defending this title so I had to be here even though it’s an Olympic year.
“I think my form is perfect, maybe better than it’s ever been. Of course, the main goal is to win the Olympic title again in Paris. It’s too soon to tell right now but I think I am on the right path. Everything is going very smooth.”
On winning so many of his titles in the final round:
“I would rather do it with my first jump or my second, to be honest. Every time I do it with the last jump, I feel very weird. I feel dead inside. I feel that I wasted all my energy. I have no emotion. But if I win on the first attempt I feel nice, I am happy. I can’t explain it.
“I guess it’s because I am a very competitive person. But I am very accurate also. I know I will not do a foul in the last jump so I can be confident and give it everything. That is probably the key.”
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Devynne Charlton (BAH) – women’s 60m hurdles
On being favourite for gold at the World Indoor Championships Glasgow 24:
“I feel a little bit of everything, but definitely more excited than anything else. Gold would be the perfect conclusion to my season, which has been going so well. I just want to stamp the indoor season with gold and grab the final.
“I don’t think the whole season would be a wash if I don’t win here, but I would feel I left something on the table.”
On her form for these championships after breaking the world record in New York less than three weeks ago:
“I’m in even better shape if anything. The way I train is focussed on peaking at the right time and I don’t think I’ve hit the peak yet. I was excited about New York, but I think Glasgow is going to be even better.
“The record could definitely go again here. It’s going to be tricky to manage the rounds. That will be my main concern rather than chasing a time but if I run the race I know I can then it could definitely go again.
“It might even happen in the semis. That’s when you’re more relaxed and less tied up in someone else’s rhythm. In the final it’s more difficult because there’s more on the line.”
On her hopes for the outdoor season:
“I really want to work on my last three hurdles as that’s been one of my deficiencies. If I can clear that up before [the Olympic Games in] Paris then it’s going to be a show.”
On becoming one of the new big stars of Bahaman athletics:
“I really looked up to the likes of Shaunae [Miller-Uibo] and Steven [Gardner] when I was a kid. All I wanted to do was be like them, so to get to the point where I am almost up there with them feels a little bit unbelievable.
“Debbie Ferguson was my favourite athlete growing up and she’s now a mentor to me at the University of Kentucky where I train. It’s good to see that come together.”
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Larissa Iapichino (ITA) – women’s long Jump
On being at the World Indoor Championships Glasgow 24:
“It is exciting to be here. I love competing on a huge stage so I am excited like a kid.”
On the high quality of jumpers and young athletes in Italy:
“I think it is the pasta. We have so many youngsters who are doing well – it is quite crazy. It is exciting to have such young people who are achieving so much. Hopefully, we can rise up and be the big Italian names of the future.”
On whether she likes competing indoors:
“I had some technical issues at first. Sometimes I confused myself but I think it is a part of the process. Now, I am a little bit more stable. Let’s see, I hope to improve on Sunday and to have fun with the other girls.
“The crowd is really close to you indoors, so you can feel the energy and the tension on your jumps. It is fun. But I love outdoors too – when you can compete in a huge stadium. And I just love the heat. But indoors has that special atmosphere.”
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Laviai Nielsen (GBR) – women’s 400m
On the possibility of running in the same 4x400m relay team as her twin sister Lina for the first time:
“We have been on the same team but we have not run on the same relay team together. So it would be the first time, hopefully, if it happens on Sunday.
“It is kind of a big relief. The first time we were on the same team was seven years ago [at the 2017 European indoors] in Belgrade and Lina unfortunately had a stress fracture. And two years ago [at the 2022 World Championships] she had a test for multiple sclerosis, so it has been a long time coming.
“It will be really special and I am hoping we can get on the podium together.”
On her individual campaign in the women’s 400m:
“I am excited. I have been training well and raced well. A championship always brings out a bit more so I am hoping I can run a bit faster. It is so special to be on home soil. I have competed here before. It is quite intimate and I know how welcoming it will feel on the start line.”
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Mattia Furlani (ITA) – men’s long jump
On the competition in Glasgow:
“I expect a really beautiful competition with as much fun as possible.”
On winning the European U20 title last year and making a name for himself in Italy:
“I love [getting] the love of the people. It is incredible. It gave me a great experience and helped my mentality for this event.
“This year, I am working differently. The experience in Budapest and Istanbul has given me experience and a mind-set for this competition.”
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Pavel Maslak (CZE) – men’s 4x400m
On competing at his sixth World Indoor Championships after winning three individual 400m golds:
“I do not count the championships but I think this is my fifth one. My first was in 2012, then 14, 16, 18, 22, and now – so it is actually my sixth.
“My medals will stay forever but now I feel more like a veteran. I do not get that much media attention anymore and people do not recognise me that much. I am also not very active on social media so it makes me feel even older.”
On his condition:
“I feel well but we will see how it goes. The preparation was without any issues but as the season is getting to an end, there are some health issues starting.
“I hope to get some good rest after these championships and that the preparation for summer will be without any pain.”
On his plans for after his career:
“[The world championships] in Tokyo 2025 are still in my plans, then I will see if there are some new, young names coming, whether they still want me at least for the relay. I think the young boys will get better.
“But I want to stay at Dukla Sports Army Club, so we will see if they find a job for me there. I definitely do not want to be a coach because I need to take some time off from athletics. Maybe after five or six years when my kids are bigger. I do not want to travel too much anymore.”
On his hobbies – capoeira and parkour:
“I do not do them anymore as the body is getting old. But my son is very talented and he is always climbing somewhere. So I was thinking about getting him into parkour some time. He is three and my daughter five.”
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Jan Stefela (CZE) – men’s high jump
On training at the Glasgow Arena:
“The sector here is perfect. It is a new Mondo [surface]. I love Mondo as it is fast as well as bouncy. We did some run-ups here in arena but it was pretty crowded.”
On his chances of jumping 2.30m:
“I believe the shape is there and 2.30 jumps are possible. I just need to prove my shape and fight to get something out of it. And also enjoy it a bit.”
On having back troubles during the indoor season:
“My back is now OK. We were working on it with our physio Karolina Velebova and it’s holding out.”
On his opponents in Glasgow:
“The start list motivates me. It is just one competition among many but it is a world championships. Actually it is my first senior one, but I have competed with these guys before so we know each other well.
“I feel comfortable and relaxed here. It does not even feel like a world champs to me. It is interesting. Just a normal competition in the national jersey.”
On the friendship among high jumpers:
“We are like one big family. Since I jumped 2.30, they started to recognise me, even abroad a bit more.”
