The stars have their say in Paris
IAAF
13 September 2002 – Paris – At the IAAF Press Conference at the Hotel de Ville, the three main contenders for the Overall men’s and women’s Grand Prix titles, Hicham El Guerrouj and Felix Sanchez, and Marion Jones, were joined on the platform by Maurice Greene, and the latest French women’s sprint sensation Muriel Hurtis, to gave their thoughts about Saturday’s 18^th IAAF Grand Prix Final.

Marion Jones (USA) -  Triple Olympic Champion.

“I might be at the top again in my event but please don’t say I can’t be beaten. The lady to my left (Muriel Hurtis) has been one of the many who have strongly challenged me. So to give me all the credit is not right, it’s been a long season for all of us, but of course I hope I will win on Saturday.”

Question - As a sprinter at the top of your game, can you offer any advice to Maurice Greene in how he can re-promote himself again for 2003?

“I’m not going to offer Maurice Greene any advice, he’s the World record holder and needs no help from me to come back next year.”

Question – As the only athlete ever to have won two events in the same Grand Prix Final (1998, 100m and Long Jump) have you any advice for Felix Sanchez, who will attempt to become the first man to succeed at such a feat (400m hurdles / 400m flat) on Saturday?

“I race so much every year, that I have trouble remembering my last race, let alone how I felt back in 1998”!
 

Muriel Hurtis (FRA) - European Indoor and Outdoor 200m champion.

“Yes, I have had a good season in Vienna (European Indoor Championships) and then this summer outdoors. With the World Championships coming to Paris next year, the Grand Prix Final is good promotion for that event and the sport as a whole. For me personally, to run in front of a home crowd on Saturday will also be a good stepping stone to my development as a competitor and my preparations for the World championships.”
 

Maurice Greene (USA) – World 100m Record holder.

“This year I just didn’t train enough, four to five months at the most and I had some family sadness…. But you all better remember what your writing about me now when you see how well I come back next year.”

“You talk about a disappointing year but I still won the US nationals, and ran the fastest time in the world this season (Rome) and I have won three Golden League meets which is more than anyone else as Chambers and Montgomery only won two each. So you just remember that next year!”

About the Grand Prix Final -

“I’m not here to compete, only to watch and support this event and I am enjoying it.”
 

Felix Sanchez (DOM) – World 400m Hurdles champion.

“If we (Hicham and Felix) both win on Saturday, we would have the same number of Grand Prix points, but I would need to run under the World record for 400m hurdles to be able to beat him on the tables* and claim the Overall Grand Prix title instead of him. So for me, the double win (400m hurdles and 400m flat) on Saturday is the more important aim….The Overall Grand Prix title is my birthday present to Hicham.”

“This task is anyway also more difficult than in London (Grand Prix) when I had two hours rest between running the two events. Here in Paris the gap is only just over one and half hours.”

“No, I definitely will not run at the World Indoor championships next March. I injured myself last winter running indoors in Birmingham. So I can now confirm my days as an indoor runner are finished…never again.”

* NB. in the event of a points tie, the Hungarian scoring tables would be used to decide the overall Grand Prix winner based on the best season’s performance of both athletes.
 

Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) – World 1500m and Mile record holder

NB. El Guerrouj will celebrate his birthday on Saturday, the day of the 18^th IAAF Grand Prix Final.

“Saturday’s race will be more difficult because there will be no pace maker to help me. I will be running against myself with no assistance…I estimate my winning time will be about 3:29.”

“With my performance in Paris I will look to please myself and the members of my family who I am very proud will be in the stadium to watch me run.”

“After the Final, I look forward to much rest…to see my family, play some golf and do some jet skiing.”