Spikes13 Nov 2017


In their own words III

FacebookTwitterEmail

Rising Star Finalists 2017 SPIKES (© Getty Images )

The Male and Female Rising Star of the Year 2017 will be crowned in just over a week. We take a look at what the best U23 athletes in the world had to say about their heroic performances this year.

Christian Coleman (USA)

Ahead of the IAAF World Championships in London.

“I know from watching previous championships what the atmosphere is going to be like, from the fans to the Usain Bolt show, so to just be a part of history is a great feeling. I've worked hard and deserve to be on the stage and I'm ready to compete.”

After winning silver medals in both the 100m and 4x100m.

“I'm excited about the future. Everybody is gunning for it [gold in 2020]. I'm looking forward to being able to make it there and compete, and come out with the gold myself, [but] right now I'm focusing on taking it all in.”

Mondo Duplantis (SWE)

Reflecting on his 5.90m world U20 record set in April.

“[Once] we put the bar at 19ft [5.80m] and I looked up there and I was like ‘I don’t even know how anyone could jump that’.

“It was just mindboggling to me that my dad jumped that. And now obviously I jumped higher than that.”

Karsten Warholm (NOR)

Having just set a Norwegian 400m hurdles record of 48.25 at the Oslo Diamond League.

“Ed Moses was talking in Oslo about there being 30 ways to make mistakes. But I am trying to look at 30 ways to make it good. I want the hurdles to be my friend. Running is a great sport, and I don’t think you should complicate it too much.”

After winning the world championships final in 48.35.

“Thank you, London! I truly don't believe it. I've worked so hard for this but I don't know what I have done.”

Yuliya Levchenko (UKR)

Following her return to Ukraine after winning world championship silver in the high jump with a PB 2.01m.

“We do not celebrate in the street, we do not ask [well-known people] for an autograph. But when I returned to Kiev after the world championships, the border guards recognised me and congratulated me. It was tremendously pleasant.” 

Salwa Eid Naser (BRN)

Before the world championships 400m final when her coach told her some of the names she would be up against.

“I don’t care who is there. Allyson Felix is someone I watched for many years. She’s my role model, but I just want to go do my thing.”

After winning silver in a national record 50.06.

“I feel so happy. It wasn’t about beating Allyson Felix. It was about getting a personal best and a medal.”

Yulimar Rojas (VEN)

After winning triple jump gold in 14.91m.

“It’s an historic medal for my country. It was a hard-fought medal so I’m really happy for the result.

“In my country now it’s quite a serious situation. I feel motivated by this to show my country in good light. I’m going to continue working hard to get more medals for them and I hope more athletes from Venezuela can have in a similar opportunity to the one I have.”