Blanka Vlasic in Monaco (© Chris Turner)
MonteCarlo, MonacoWorld High Jump champion Blanka Vlasic couldn’t be happier to be in Monaco ahead of tomorrow night’s ‘Herculis 2009’ meeting in Monaco’s Stade Louis II (28 July) where she will meet Germany’s Ariane Friedrich, the European Indoor champion, her chief opponent at next month’s 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany (15–23 August).
The Herculis Monaco 2009 is a Super Grand Prix status meeting as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2009.
“Its great to get away from the poor weather which has been following us this season,” said the Croatian at a press conference this afternoon (27) in the Fairmont Hotel, Monte-Carlo. “After the wind and the rain of London it’s good to be in the sun and to visit the beach.”
“Monaco is much like Split. Just more expensive boats and houses,” Vlasic said with a broad smile on her face.
Vlasic was reflecting on the importance of taking time out and relaxing even at the height of the season, and taking advantage of the weather at a destination like Monaco.
“My philosophy is that we are not robots. If you take from your body, you make hard trainings and always live under great stress, you have to give something back to your body…otherwise your results will start to suffer.”
How does she view her 2009 season?
“This year so far I haven’t been able to give my best especially because of the bad weather (at most of her competitions). I know what I have in my legs and that it will come out (in competition) eventually. I just have to relax and it will come.”
“I want to do it tomorrow night, the question is will I?”
Vlasic smiled again and continued, “I have great opponents and great weather here so hopefully my legs will deliver tomorrow.”
What about Friedrich's consistent season and why is this only the second time they have competed together this summer?
“When you have a personal best of 2.06m, then two metres is your level and she (Ariane) is consistently over that height all the time.”
“Yes, I was counting on meeting Ariane more, I was expecting to meet her in Paris (17 July; Friedrich pulled out citing tiredness), but at least we have tomorrow.”
“But it (Monaco and Berlin) is not just Ariane and me, there are plenty of others capable of winning for example Chicherova has just come back jumping two metres (at last weekend’s Russian Championships).”
Vlasic was philosophising today, not just about Monaco which will be her last meet prior to Berlin or those championships but more generally.
“The key to sporting success is sustaining form throughout the season, that’s real success.”
“Yes, Berlin is the most important competition of the season for me but I’m always concerned with a bigger picture. Most important is that I’m healthy and that I can jump high for a lot more years.”
What about the pressure ahead of and in Berlin?
“The first time (winning a major title) is the hardest. Before Osaka the pressure was the worst. But now I will always have that medal in my pocket. Its mine to keep! So Berlin in terms of pressure, it should be less, though of course now there is the different pressure of being the defending champion.”
Could it be that when it comes to Berlin because Friedrich is competing on home soil in front of a German crowd who expect her to win, that the weight of expectation on her shoulders will deflect some of the attention usually focussed on you?
“The only problem with that scenario will be that her public will actually be there (in the stadium), while mine won’t.”
“No, I jump for myself. I do not let others and their goals affect me. I am not worried about that at all.”
“I hope the German people will also cheer for me. They know sports and a good performance when they see it, so I am sure it will be fair play from them in Berlin.”
Aside visiting a beach, what will be Vlasic's final preparations prior to Berlin, will she go to a training camp?
“I never go to training camps. I enjoy being at home. My best training is always done at home with my family.”
“Anyway all the important training is already done. It’s now just about refreshing my training before Berlin.”
And what will it take for anyone to win in Berlin?
“It is the same answer I also gave before Osaka and Beijing. I don’t know if it’s the right one but it’s the only one you’ll get from me,” said a relaxed Vlasic with yet another broad smile on her face, confirming concisely, “2.05 or more.”
Chris Turner for the IAAF
