Flash Interview - Third Day
Men's 800m Final
Wilson
Kipketer (DEN), gold medallist and new
world record in 800m:
"The decision that I could run a world
record for the second time fell during the warm
up. The second important thing was the atmosphere
in this arena and I knew the public loved me. It
is too early too speak about the summer plans but
you can imagine what Paris means to me"
Women's 800m Final
Maria
Mutola (MOZ), gold:
"The black ribbon was on my chest to remind
me of the tragic death of my father a few weeks
ago. I am glad now I have the possibility to
dedicate this medal to him. About Athens, I have
to decide. Maybe I will try to double
again."
Mens 400m Final:
Sunday
Bada (NIG), gold medallist:
"I was in good shape, I had a good
preparation. I knew that I was ready for this
event. James Baulch was in a good shape too but
the fact that he was the media's favourite helped
me.
My aim for 1997 is to end the year the first
non-American to run under 44 seconds."
Women's 400m Final
Jearl
Miles-Clark (USA), gold medallist:
"For me today, the lane 3 was not only the
golden one but the one I wanted all the time. I
was not panicking running behind the three girls
at the middle of the race. The important thing
was a cool head. Before the race I thought 50.6
would be enough for the gold. It would have been
an American record."
Women's 1500m
Final:
Yekaterina
Podkopayeva (RUS), gold medallist:
"Right now being World Indoor Champion I am
ready to state that this has been the biggest
victory of all my career. Tomorrow, maybe I will
see it in a different colour, but today it's
definitely pink. Imagine, I am 44 years old and I
am proud of it!"
Men's 60m hurdles
Final:
Anier
Garcia (CUB), gold medallist:
"Between the 4th and 5th hurdle, I slowed
down, and so I was surprised to win the race. I
am the best in the world now. I am very happy. As
I took everybody by surprise today, I know now
that I have to work harder so I can confirm this
summer in Athens that I am in the top 5 in the
world."
Women's 60m
hurdles Final:
Michelle
Freeman (JAM), gold medallist:
"It was very hard and very emotional today.
It is not as fast as I would like but I think I
can take it. I am going to take a break and then
concentrate on Athens this summer. I believe I am
as good at the 100m hurdles as at the 60m."
Women's long jump
Final
Fiona May
(ITA), gold medallist:
"It wasn't perfect but after all it's not
the most important thing. It's really strange, we
didn't prepare it so I'm very surprised. After my
national record in Moscow, we decided to go to
Paris to see what I could do."
Men's 3000m Final:
Haile
Gebrselassie (ETH), gold medallist:
"I was trying to beat the world record, but
it's very difficult to run indoors. You have to
be careful, so when I dropped below the record I
decided that it was better to concentrate on
winning the race. I think this year is for the
summer."
Women's 4x400m
Final
Tatyana
Alekseyeva (RUS) fourth leg runner of
gold winning Russian team which set new world
record for the event:
"Do not ask me how we will celebrate. It
started already with the victory lap and you can
be sure it will take time. We have to think it
over how to share the money!"
Men's heptathlon
Final
Robert
Zmelik (CZE), gold medallist:
"Only one personal best for heptathlon
today, in hurdles, but a very high standard in
other events. Of course, it is my personal best
in the heptathlon and I can tell you that I knew
what was at stake financially. I love those sort
of ideas!"
Women's pole vault
Final:
Stacy
Dragila (USA), gold medallist:
"If a woman will jump 5.00m? Anything is
possible. In the next two years we will attack
4.80m and around 2000 why not 5.00m. The length
of my pole is 4.30m and the grip is 4.10m."
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