By N.D. Prashant
There is no room for ‘ifs and buts’ in the life of Olympic double gold medalist Jeremy Wariner.
The US track and field sensation is mentally so strong that he believes he has won the race even before he hits the track.
It all started for Wariner in 2004 at the Athens Olympic Games and he has never looked back since then. Testimony to this fact is his career stats that has shown a steep rise over the years.
After winning gold in the 400m in Athens clocking an exact 44 seconds, Wariner proved his 400m dominance in 2005 at Helsinki bettering his personal best with 43.93 seconds. In 2006 at the Rome World Championship, he clocked 43.62 and in 2007 (Osaka), he set a new benchmark with a timing of 43.45 seconds.
“The way I’m currently running, I don’t think anybody can beat me. I’m going to win at the (Beijing) Games,” says Wariner, who is here to compete in the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix.
Wariner attributes his success to his determination after a hamstring injury in 2004.
“I was struggling with my injury and it took me a while to get back on track. But the tough times only made me stronger mentally. Since then, I have had this feeling that I can never lose. All I think before stepping on the track is, ‘I’ve done it before and I can do it again.’ That has been the key to my success so far.”
Wariner is not bothered who he will be competing against, nor is he perturbed about the youngsters in the fray.
“You can’t be thinking about your opponents or for that matter who is closing in on you. That’s not my way of looking at things.
All I know is, I’ve to go out there and perform; give it my best shot.”
Wariner split from his coach Clyde Hart early this year and is currently training under Michael Ford.
However, the World Champion feels nothing much has changed in his regime since the change.
“My relationship with Michael has been more than just track and field affairs. He told me
what I need to remember and I do just that. There is no need for him to keep on repeating himself. I know how to keep the regime going,” says Wariner, who holds the third fastest time in history.
Though Wariner specialises in the 400, he will be testing himself against compatriot LaShawn Merritt and challenger Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway in the 200m here in Doha.
“I would like to run faster. Participating in 200m is part of my training. The faster you run, the better. I would like to run as many 200m races possible before competing in the 400m at the Games,” says Wariner who is confident of breaking Michael Johnson’s 400m world record of 43.18 seconds set in 1999.
“If I keep improving the way I have been, I’m sure I can do that fairly soon,” asserts Wariner. |
