Michelle Perry of the US celebrates winning the 100m Hurdles gold medal (© Getty Images)
Osaka, JapanAs she stepped into the starting blocks prepared to defend her world 100m Hurdles championship on Wednesday night, Michelle Perry wondered where the competitive spark that had driven her to the top of the world had gone.
That she was successful in winning her second gold medal is testament to her incredible ability.
“Honestly yesterday (during the semi-finals) I was way more intense than I was today,” she admitted. “I was telling myself ‘where is that fire today? You need it today.’ So I just was like, ‘Ok you have got to get out and get a good start.’ Yesterday I think I would have run a whole lot faster. I missed out on 12.30 by not closing like I should have at the end but I am happy with the win.”
Only the second to defend 100m Hurdles title
Defending a title is much more difficult as any champion will attest. In the 100m Hurdles, only three-time winner Gail Devers managed to produce victories back-to-back. And there was much more pressure on the American having turned in a string of world class times throughout the season including the world leading time of 12.44 she recorded in Rome’s Golden Gala IAAF Golden League meeting on 13 July.
“It was extremely difficult,” she of her title defence. “This is the first time I have ever had to do this in my career because, I don’t know if you followed my college career, but the best I ever pulled out at NCAA’s was a runner-up and that was in the Heptathlon. And, to have this much success in the hurdles - and I never made a final in NCAA’s - was very difficult because I had never been under this type of pressure situation back to back.”
Perry attended the University of California and Los Angeles, UCLA, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. She is currently studying for her Master’s degree in school counselling and education. Once she retires from competition she intends to work in education.
Following Kersee’s made the permanent switch from multis to hurdles
It was at UCLA where she came under the tutelage of her present coach, Bobby Kersee. At first she competed in the Heptathlon with some success, scoring a personal best of 6126 points during the 2004 season. Then she and Kersee decided she could become a decent hurdler. Obviously she has a lot of respect for him which was revealed in the way she is concerned whether he will be pleased with her technical performance.
“I have been with Bobby forever, since I was in college,” she says. “I haven’t talked to him yet, but I think he will be happy with the win. But in practice I was on pace to go 12.30 so he’s probably going to be like, 'you did this wrong, you did that wrong', but he will be happy with the win.”
Perry is a delightful young woman to interview. Articulate and very personable she clearly has a good sense of humour. When a reporter, resorting to flattery, suggests she has years left in her career because she is so young, she starts laughing.
“You must not know how old I am,” she replies with a laugh.
“22 or 23 right?” the reporter jokes.
She laughs again.
“No I wish!” she continues. “If I was 23 the sky is the limit for me in this sport. No I am pushing thirty. I am excited, and I have seen a lot of hurdlers that have a lot of success in their thirties. Of course after the Olympics I will take it year by year and if my body is good, and I am running well, I will be here.”
Next up, the pursuit of the Golden League Jackpot
Next up for the two-time World champion - after celebrating with her mother, who is here in Osaka - are the remaining three Golden League meetings where she remains a contender for the $1 million Golden League Jackpot. Regardless, she appears more interested in setting a personal best. Can she lower her personal best this season?
“I believe so,” she responds. “You have got to wait for that moment and it will come. Zurich, Brussels and Berlin I definitely have to figure out how to drop because I haven’t PR’ed this year yet and the goal for me is to PR every season.”
The pursuit of a faster time continues. Will it come in Zurich, Brussels or Berlin? Stay tuned. Oh and for the record Michelle Perry is a sprightly 28 years old.
Paul Gains for the IAAF
