Anna Chicherova (Russia) (© Nikolai Ivanov)
5 August
Today I left Podolsk sports base and made a trip in Moscow. At home in my student hostel, I made some washing up and tided up my room. It distracted me a little bit from my training.
I have been away for so long that my black cat didn’t even recognize me. He just looked at me wondering who I was and then ran away. I had asked my friends to feed him in my absence.
I really don’t mind leaving in the hostel, and there is no point in renting a room somewhere in Moscow. I hope that in the nearest future I will be able to earn enough money to buy my own apartment in Moscow. But right now I still can’t afford it!
Moscow is the most expensive city in Russia. It is probably cheaper to by a flat in Paris than here.
7 August
This morning I arrived in Tula where the Russian Championships took place with my coach and Yelena Yelesina.
At first I went to watch the qualification of the Triple Jump, my boyfriend was participating in it and he passed it successfully. Then I returned to the hotel “Moscow” to prepare for the evening training session.
Nothing special happened today. It was just the usual normal day before a competition. I do not know why but I always feel sleepy in Tula.
8 August
You wouldn’t believe it. At 9am I was still asleep and still wanted to sleep. When I finally got up; I took a walk to the famous Tula gingerbread.
I liked the city and the local people even recognized me and promised me they would come to the stadium. It was very nice as when I am in Moscow usually nobody notices me.
I then began my mental preparation for tomorrow’s qualification round. At the stadium I made as usual a warm up and checked the order of the heights. 15 jumpers participated in the qualification and 12 entered the final.
I even had the time to witness a fantastic and unexpected world record of Yuliya Pechonkina. I returned to the hotel together with Anna Pyatykh.
That is when I started worrying about tomorrow’s jumps. I talked a little bit with Anna and went to sleep at 23.30.
9 August
First of all I watched the competition of my boyfriend. He showed his best – 16,44m. But It was too far from the leaders. I congratulated the winner Vitaliy Moskalenko for his 17,17m. It looks like he can enter the final of World Championships.
I did not stay at the stadium, because I am becoming very emotional when I watch the competitions. I need to keep the emotions for my own event. I am glad that my best friends Anna Pyatikh in triple jump and Tanya Firova in 400 m were selected in the team.
The Russian selectors had told me that I had already been included in the team but I asked them not to talk about it, to keep it away from the press and to wait for my result.
To be honest with you all; I still am not 100% confident. I still feel some problems with my back.
10 August
My God! I am in the National team.
Before the competition I warmed up and my jumps were quite good. But I didn’t like the feeling in my feet.
At 1,95m it began raining and I told myself to jump it in the first attempt before the rain became more intensive.
I jumped very easily but at 1,98m made a mistake, maybe I got afraid and it affected my jump. I do not like to be the first in turn to jump. I made it in the second attempt and at that moment heavy shower began.
I got the silver medal and the place in the team and decided to leave the competition. It is my own decision. Today Marina Kuptsova was stronger; she managed to concentrate her efforts and won the competition.
But let us all see what happens in Paris
Anna