In Their Own Words
In Their Own Words: Australian Olympians Assess Their Chances
Saturday, August 2nd, 2008
Craig Mottram (5000m):
"I am actually very relaxed and chilled out, which is a very good thing and the extreme opposite to how I was feeling this time last year leading into the world championships."
Steve Hooker (pole vault):
"I’m not a superstitious person – no photos, no mementos, no rituals, no lucky underpants. I just train hard, then go out on the track and have fun on competition day."
In Their Own Words: More From Team USA
Thursday, July 24th, 2008Matt Tegenkamp, when asked about the men’s 5000m field at the Beijing Olympics:
"I’ve raced against almost all of them in the past. There’s some film study, like in football. We’ll go through and look at past results We have a very good indication from last year’s world championships, in Japan, it was very hot and humid there and it’s going to be very hot and humid in Beijing. The race was ridiculously slow in Japan and it was a kicker’s race, it was whoever can run the fastest last lap. I don’t know if it will necessarily be like that, because everyone feels that a race like that is perfect for Lagat, so I would imagine it will be a faster, harder race. What we really learn as you race more and more is that you have to be able to adapt to your race plan and we’ll have a basic race plan of what we think is going to happen and then it’s just cover the moves and you’ve got to be there when the race actually starts, which is not going to be until the last mile." [Source]
Blake Russell, member of the USA marathon team:
"I think we all just got tired of hearing the U.S. distance runners stink," says marathoner Blake Russell. "So everybody’s trying to prove them wrong, and in my mind, I know that we can do it." [Source]
A classy Tyson Gay, on having to withdraw from the 100m dash at the Aviva London Grand Prix:
"I apologize to the fans." [Source]
In Their Own Words: Team USA
Monday, July 7th, 2008US Olympic men’s track and field coach Bubba Thornton, when he was asked to predict how many medals his squad will win at next month’s Beijing Olympics:
“I’ve never talked about numbers. It’s one of those pressures you don’t need. I hope they have heard our national anthem enough that they are humming it when they leave.” [Source]
Kansas State men’s track head coach Cliff Rovelto:
“I was amidst all these middle-distance geeks, and they were all making bets about who was going to wind up on the Olympic team. No one was making any mention of Christian [Smith] making the team, so I told them, ‘Don’t count out the guy with the ugly-looking ponytail.’” [Source]
Terrence Trammell:
“Going over there, it’s going to be exciting. I feed off all the electricity. I will act like they are cheering for me when they are cheering for him. (Beating Liu) is the plan. That’s why I’m going.” [Source]
In Their Own Words: Men’s 1500m
Thursday, July 3rd, 2008Bernard Lagat:
"I can still do this," Lagat said. "I feel comfortable running with these young guys, 10 years younger than me." [Source]
Alan Webb:
“I’m confident now,” Webb said, although it is difficult to know whether he is trying to convince himself or others after scratching from the 800-meter competition. “I still have some work to do, but I’m getting back out there. I’m going to be ready.” [Source]
Lopez Lomong:
”I went to the graveyard where they held a funeral for me and had made a little pile of stones,” Lomong said. “We had to dig me out. We dissected a goat and blessed it and did some ritual stuff and they brought me back to life.” [Source]
Leo Manzano:
"I am really excited to see what the next level is I don’t know what is going to happen yet," he said. [Source]