2023-10-25 00:15:12
After her nationalization in June, the athlete Majida Maayouf, Moroccan by birth, needed the last procedure to be eligible for Spain, the transfer granted by the International Athletics Federation. The document arrived on October 2, which prevented him from competing with the national team in the World Half Marathon in Riga (Estonia). Now she looks forward to running and feeling “100% a professional athlete,” she repeats. Her goal is the Valencia marathon, where she wants to equal or improve her record. Before, this Sunday, she will go to the Atapuerca cross country.
– How do you feel a few days after your debut as a Spanish athlete?
– Very happy and motivated. Nothing is going to stop me from achieving what I have always worked for and dreamed of. That transfer arrived, the last obstacle.
– Could not participate in the World Half Marathon. How did she handle it?
– (Laughs). With everything I’ve been through, it was a matter of being patient and waiting for the transfer that came after that race. They notified me to be at the World Cup but the international document did not arrive on time. I did the preparation and even went to Morocco to train at altitude. Even so, it has been good for me to continue with my goal, which is the marathon.
– And he was surprised by the earthquake in his country.
– Yes. The day of the earthquake I was with my family in Meknes. He caught us at night. It is true that far from the epicenter, which was 400 kilometers. As a precaution, we slept outside the house, in the open, for fear of aftershocks. We had a big scare but fortunately we are all fine.
Mental exhaustion
«It has been a great discrimination. She scored for the team but not for me because she was not Spanish »
– Do you feel that it is the key moment in your sporting life?
– That’s how I feel. If you are not emotionally well, that translates to your performance. I always say that what you give is what you get. If you are not a good person, they will not love you. It is true that I have had a very strong mental and emotional exhaustion because in sporting terms I did not see that my victories were valued. It has been total discrimination because it did score for the team but not for me because I was not an athlete with a Spanish license. Not only have I suffered it, it happens to more athletes. Something should be changed.
On December 3 in Valencia
– Are the marks you have made as a Moroccan athlete still valid in your new status as Spanish?
– Those records are there. For them to be Spanish records, we will have to run them again and set those times. But those marks are on my legs and in my effort (laughs). They are registered in the international federation, as well as in the ranking. Before I won Spanish championships without winning them because I didn’t get on the podium and they didn’t give me points. Finally they are going to evaluate me based on my results.
– A digital publication has accused you of giving an adverse analytical result in 2020 for terbutaline, a substance used for asthma in your case. What do you have to say?
– I have not made statements nor will I make them. I’m not going to talk about this topic. I remain focused on training, competing and improving day by day.
– Debuts this Sunday at the Atapuerca cross country. With nerves?
– I started with athletics in cross country events. So debuting as a Spaniard in Atapuerca, the best national cross country event, will be a great motivation. I ran there once, many years ago. Cross country takes its preparation and now I’m more into the marathon doing many kilometers… But I’ll go out and enjoy it.
Olympic?
«I have the minimum. “It will depend on the criteria of the federation.”
– Your goal is the Valencia marathon. There she dazzled in 2022 with an excellent mark of 2.21.01 hours, the fifth best in history at the European level. Do you feel under pressure?
– I feel the responsibility of wanting to do better. It is true that in 2022 I achieved my best mark. Valencia is a very fast circuit, I wish it could go below 2.20. But that takes time, preparation and a lot of support.
– Do you see yourself at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024?
– I am going to do everything I can to achieve that dream. Then it will depend on the federation’s criteria to choose the marathon runners. I already have the minimum but I have to keep working.
–What can you tell me about the men’s world record achieved by the Ethiopian Tigist Assefa with 2:11.53?
– It means flying over the asphalt. It is a great brand. It is clear that there are no longer limits, as Kipchoge says.
#stop #achieving #dreamed