2024-04-20 21:25:55
Malaika Mihambo competes in Paris as long jump Olympic champion. She explains to t-online how she looks forward to defending her title – and talks about her goals.
The long jump final of the Olympic Games in Tokyo was hard to beat in terms of drama. In the end, Malaika Mihambo triumphed. The major event was now almost three years ago and the games in Paris from July 26th are approaching.
The German athletics ace will then start as defending champion on August 8th. In an interview with t-online, the 30-year-old not only talks about her goals at the Olympics – and the pressure that comes with it – but also looks at the sporting year up to that point.
t-online: How are you feeling after your injury last year?
Malaika Mihambo: I am very well. During the indoor season my main task was to fight back after the torn muscle fiber last year. Now I’m starting the season with a very good feeling.
He cares about competing well. To do my best in the crucial competitions, to deliver a very good performance and to stay injury-free.
They will be competing at the European Championships in Rome at the beginning of June. Is the European Championship a dress rehearsal for the Olympics for you?
Nope. The European Championships are of course a highlight, but above all an important stop on the way to the Olympics. There are two months between the two events, so a lot can still develop in training. I hope that I will be at the peak of my performance in August.
Many athletes skip the European Championships and concentrate entirely on the Olympics. Why she not?
Of course the plateau at the Olympics will be higher than that at the European Championships. But you can also set two highlights without endangering the season. I skipped the World Indoor Championships at the beginning of March to do this.
Are you already training with the Olympic Games in mind?
Rather less, because I always think from week to week and training session to training session. I stay in the present and the Olympics are still very far away.
What are you focusing on?
After the indoor season, I’m now in a two-month training block with two different training camps to build a good foundation.
You will compete in Paris as defending champions. How big is the pressure?
Not big. I can now handle pressure well. In addition, I have already achieved everything I could wish for in my career. So for me there is no pressure to do it again and again. I try to achieve good performance from this lightness, because you have to differentiate between two types of pressure.
The positive pressure that I value: It is the pressure in a competitive situation when something is at stake. But there is also pressure that brings you to your knees. This is exactly what I learned to process and put aside for myself, especially in the season in Tokyo before the Games.
What is your goal for Paris?
My goal is to do everything I can to be my best. Here, too, it’s about being able to act.
Are you aiming for a medal?
Medals depend not only on my own performance, but also on that of others. “I want to get a medal” is not a precise instruction for myself. I want to run, jump and land as well as possible. If I succeed, I can then see in the second step whether it was enough for a medal.