WRITTEN FOR THE STOCKHOLM BAUHAUS ATHLETICS MEDIA TEAM
Double Olympic and world 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce spoke to the world’s media at the official Stockholm Bauhaus Athletics press conference this afternoon ahead of her eagerly-anticipated participation in the IAAF Diamond League tomorrow evening.
The 27-year-old Jamaican has not competed outdoors in Stockholm since the 2008 season and as the current world leader with 10.74, fireworks are expected from the diminutive track star.
Fresh from victories in Eugene and Paris, the world indoor 60m champion explained:
“Training has been very hard but I’m looking forward to getting this race going and into the world champs.
“After the Jamaican Championships, I went back into a loading phase – lifting weights and running over-distances like 250m’s, which I don’t like so I’m a lot stronger this year and I’m looking forward to seeing what the hard work has done”
With the 10.90 meeting record under threat, Fraser-Pryce continued:
“My race in Paris (10.74) was great – the female athletes are not far in times so it’s more about executing the race rather than the time but I was really excited when that time came up.
“I don’t focus on meeting records and times – if I execute well, I’ll run a fast time.”
Aiming to add a seventh world crown to her collection at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing next month, she revealed:
“It’s going to be loaded at the worlds – they’re all hungry so it’s great and it keeps me on my toes. I’m doing the 100m and 4x100m and my coach isn’t sure if I’m doing the 200m – I’ve earned the spot but my mind’s more on the 100m.
“The 200m is definitely more strategic, I’m not an endurance runner so I prefer the 100m – I have a good start and my legs are very strong so I can push out hard and I transition well.
“As Olympic and world champion, I don’t think of myself like that – just as an aggressive athlete, even though I smile a lot on the start-line – deep down, we’re all nervous but I just focus on myself.”
Having not lost a major championship final since 2011, the outgoing Fraser-Pryce admitted she was leaning towards dying her hair green for her quest for glory in China and is excited to return to the scene where she made her major international debut:
“I’m looking forward to going back to Beijing – it’s so ironic when I went in 2008 (for the Olympics), I had no idea I’d get a medal, I was more star-struck and here I am – years later, going back as a champion,” she explained.
Meanwhile, two of the world’s finest high hurdlers took their turn in front of the global press with world number one, Orlando Ortega and the USA’s David Oliver enlightening the room with their tales of fast times and transfer of allegiance.
For Ortega, the interviews fell on his 24th birthday as the former Cuban explained that he is now officially cleared to represent Spain in competitions.
The Olympic sixth-placer – who sped to a 12.94 world-lead to win in Paris earlier this month following a win in Birmingham also – will make his debut in Stockholm and divulged:
“I didn’t expect the time, I was happy with the way I ran. It’s very important to maintain my times and it’s always been a dream to compete for Spain since I left Cuba – I hope for the best going forward.
“I knew it would be impossible to compete in Beijing but I hope to compete in Rio (at the 2016 Olympics) and in Portland (at the 2016 IAAF World indoor Championships).
“My focus is to win the IAAF Diamond League – that would be my gold medal for the year.”
World champion, Oliver holds a 12.98 season’s best and the 33-year-old is aiming to replicate his 2013 victory here tomorrow evening.
The 2008 Olympic bronze medallist revealed:
“It’s always great to be back in Stockholm – I had my first big comp here in 2005 so I have good memories of competing here.
“I sign up for every race I can do, I love to compete so I don’t skip meets – I just worry about myself, I’ve been in this sport at the highest level for 11 years so I just handle the business in my lane.
“We’re like real men, we face-off all the time, we’re not scared of each other. You never forget where you came from and all the grind that you’ve put in.
“I’m incredibly nervous in every race, my heart’s always in my throat every time I’m on the starting line but I try to stay calm.”
The winner in Shanghai, New York and at the recent Pan-American Games, Oliver continued:
“I’ve been running fairly well in the IAAF Diamond League – I’m leading at the moment and I hope to win the series, that’s the ultimate goal.
“Paris was the first time I’ve been under 13-seconds since 2011. I do feel I’m one of the most consistent performers around, I pride myself on that.”
