By ND Prashant/Doha
Rarely would have any athlete enjoyed an extended reign at the top as US long jumper Brittney Reese. Only once, since her career started, has Reese failed to record the best long jump in the country.
The 25-year-old has four straight gold medals – two each at the World Indoor and outdoor Championships– and last year added the only title missing in her list of achievements - the Olympic gold.
Despite the string of achievements, she is hungry for more.
Reese who is here for the Doha Diamond League is aiming for the US long jump record and the World title in Moscow, this season.
“My main focus right now is to break the American record. In the run up to the World Championships, I want to try and get that record out of the way,” said Reese after visiting the Olympic Exhibition in Doha yesterday.
While most of her competitors would be losing their sleep worrying about how to beat her, Reese wants to achieve her target in a simpler way – by having fun.
“I always want to go out there and enjoy. This is what I did in London and I won, this is what I always do. I believe in working hard and don’t simply concentrate on winning. It comes automatically,” says a confident Reese, adding that nothing much has changed since her Olympic win.
“Everything is the same but it has set me moving. I live in Santiago now and have more opportunities to train outdoors. My coach has moved there and even the weather is better,” reveals Reeves, whose main rival here in Doha apart from her teammates Janay Soukup Deloach and Chelsea Hayes would be Russia’s Yelena Sokolova.
“I think, right now, women’s long jump is very competitive. Everyone now want to jump seven metres because they all know only seven metres is good enough to win you a medal.
“I’m confident of jumping this distance to get a win, but along the way to that win I would like to get some form of a record,” explains Reeves, adding that, she was very excited about competing in Doha.
“I’m ready. I’m not all the way to full approach yet but I jumped 6.94m from three quarters of my approach.
“After that I have prepared well and will be at my best in a couple of weeks. But I’m confident. The field is great here and I feel I can put some good jump on Friday,” asserts Reese, who won the 2012 World Indoor title in Istanbul and broke the indoor American record, once held by Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
Though Reese has not put a foot wrong in the last five years, she still feels she has to improve on her landing. “What I want to improve on is my landing. It is the same thing that I want to improve on over the years. I have seen progression each year and this year I want to get those feet together. I also feel the need to improve on my balance but I know that will go away once I manage to get my full approach.”
