Blanka Vlasic: It is not easy to win all the time without the right to have a bad day

10/03/2010

The World High Jump champion, Croatia’s Blanka Vlasic, is the hot favourite to win the gold medal at this weekend’s World Indoor Championships in Doha. Nevertheless, she is yet thinking about Barcelona 2010, where she will once again face the world’s best high jumpers. Croatia has not obtained a single medal at a European Athletics Championships since their independence – Vlasic wants to win the first one.

Barcelona 2010: Do you remember how many times you tried to beat the World record (2,09m Stefka Kostadinova)?
I don’t count attempts; my father is responsible for statistics. But I remember that I was very close in Brussels in 2007 and last year in Thessaloniki at the Grand Prix Final.

- 2,10m…what would you give to achieve this goal?
I already give 100% every day. That is the best investment and the only way to jump it.

- What does only 1cm mean in the life of Blanka Vlasic?
Ha, ha, it’s all about centimetres to me. It only means that I’m very close. But if I jump the world record, I won’t think “this is it”, I would keep fighting to achieve a bigger goal.

- At Berlin 2009 final you won the most important medal in your career so far. How was the competition, how did you feel?
I have been under big pressure, but only on the previous day, which is a much better scenario than in Osaka where I had trouble sleeping for a much longer time. However, I have been prepared mentally very well and I knew it will be one of the toughest competitions in my career. From the moment I arrived in the stadium, I have just been focusing on my technique and the next height. Still, I’m surprised how I managed to stay so calm.  Only after releasing my emotions I realised how stressful it has been and how much I really wanted to win. It was a magical night for me and the biggest success in my career.

- What was it like to climb the podium as world champion?
The best feeling ever! You just start to role the film in your head, remembering the hard days and the whole path you needed to take until that moment. Because it feels so good, I’m always trying to experience it again and again.

- In 2008 you stayed on top during the whole season, making it to the Summer Olympics as great favourite where you lost to Tia Hellebaut and later missed out on the Golden League Jackpot. Was that a shock for you?
To be honest, I’m grateful for every moment in my career. Good or bad, because it makes me stronger and smarter. In Beijing I jumped 2,05m on the second attempt while Tia made it on the first. That’s the whole story. When you get to a big competition and perform at your best level, would you think you did a bad job? Regarding Brussels later that summer, everybody was exhausted from the Olympics. I think that Friedrich was very fresh because she didn’t jump in Zurich right after Beijing and she was able to give her maximum. Unfortunately, I felt a little tired and couldn’t perform as planned. But what is money compared to a huge experience. There is always a way to improve and even though I don’t have any regrets, I found some weak points and worked on them to improve.

- How did you manage to come back after these two painful defeats?
I just took some time off at home and started fresh with winter preparations. It wasn’t as hard for me as everybody imagines. I was able to live with the defeats because I knew I gave my best. At that time, in Beijing and Brussels, it just wasn’t enough, but it happens. It is not easy to win all the time, every competition, without the right to have a bad day. You have to live your life and this is only a small part of mine. But I learned how to deal with it because it’s just the way it goes.

- You are from Croatia, a country with similar weather conditions as in Spain during summer. Do you think that you will feel good competing in Barcelona this year?
Definitely! I love Spain and I’m happy to visit Barcelona for the first time in my life. It will be a great competition, I’m sure.

- How important is this year’s European Athletics Championships for you?
I still haven’t achieved a European Athletics Championships medal and I’ll try to fill in my collection. But there is also the Diamond League, so it will be a summer full of important events.

- At the Madrid Meeting you cleared 2,05m in 2007 and 2,06m in 2008. Can you improve these top performances in Barcelona?
Of course I can, but will I do it? If I didn’t believe in myself, why bother to jump at all? To jump high, I need good conditions and you only get a few competitions like that during the year.

- How come you speak Spanish?
I understand it very well, but I still need to work on my talking abilities. I guess I picked up a lot of words by watching Spanish soap operas.

- Who are your main rivals for Barcelona 2010?
We’ll see. Every summer brings some new ones. You should ask me this question in July.

- Ruth Beitia will compete on home soil. How do you see her chances to climb the podium?
I think she’s got good chances to win a medal. It is a huge motivation to jump in front of your home crowd. I’m sure she’ll be ready to jump high.

- Tia Hellebaut has just announced her comeback. How do you feel about that?
To be really honest, her comeback is just a fact to me, there are no special emotions regarding that subject. If she's happy with her decision, I'm happy for her. It is good for our event to have more girls who can jump high.

- How is your current preparation going? Are you satisfied with your training and season so far?
I’m very happy how things are going for me. I’m healthy, with a good winter training period behind me and I enjoy every competition. Sometimes it’s enough to do what you love and be good at it. I feel I did that necessary step forward and I’m excited to see what that means regarding my results.

- What are your main objectives for 2010?
To be better than the last year. It’s always my only and ultimate goal.  Sure I’ll be ready for the important competitions, but in the end – beating the old Blanka is my greatest satisfaction.