Devers
hopes it’s hot in Rome
12 July 2002 - After an international career spanning a decade and a half, Gail
Devers is still setting the pace on the Golden League circuit
It would take a whole book to tell Gail Devers’ story. And indeed the career of this great sprinter and hurdler has now lasted more than 15 years – an eternity in track and field.
The American, who is one of 8 athletes still in contention for the IAAF Golden League Jackpot, may have won two Olympic titles and four World Championship golds but she’s still striving for glory.
“I have changed my philosophy this year. I take every race as it comes and just try to win it. I want to be a consistent 12.5 hurdler and so far this year I have been. I have been blessed not to suffer any injury and should I remain injury-free I am sure I can run faster.”
Devers, who won the first two legs of the Golden League circuit successfully in Oslo and Paris, seems to be a class above her rivals. If she can keep her winning series going she will win a share of the Golden League Jackpot for the second time.
“Throughout my career, I have learnt that when one sets a goal, one never reaches it. So this year the only goal I set myself was to run fast races and be consistent. So yes, I want the Jackpot but I didn’t put it amongst my goals because if I had I would have missed it!”
35 year-old Devers will have to beat the best hurdlers of the moment, including World Champion indoors and outdoors Anjanette Kirkland (USA), the second fastest of the season Bridgette Foster (JAM) and Glory Alozie (ESP), to claim her third Golden League victory tomorrow night in Roma’s Stadio Olimpico. Devers admits that she doesn’t yet know how long she will continue competing.
“You know, athletics isn’t what I’ve always aimed at doing. The truth is I wanted to be a teacher but God blessed me with a talent and I have to use it. I know that if I use it well he’ll bless me in some other ways in the future.”
Although the Olympic gold for 100m hurdles is still missing from her resume, Devers explains that times are far more important to her than medals.
“What I really want from the sport is to be ranked as high as possible on the All-time world lists. I think I am fourth now but if I could climb a few positions I wouldn’t mind at all. A medal would be more for my grandchildren to look up to when I’m old.”
With a personal best of 12.33 and a season’s best of 12.40, Devers could erase the long standing (22-year) stadium record of 12.39 should the weather in Rome remain warm and dry.
And if her fans wish she’d spend another decade on the track, Devers admits there are a lot of other things she wants to achieve.
“I want to spend more time working for my foundation. I want to build a track, I want to organise my own meet, I want to build a community centre and I want to write something that would eventually be published.”
Devers’ main writing subject may be children’s stories, but she has already thought about writing her own biography. “Yes, when I retire I will write my memoirs. I have still not got the right title though!”
“Pure gold” perhaps?