by Stuart Weir
Katerina Stefanidi, photo by Getty Images / London 2017
Katerina Stefanidi, photo by Getty Images / London 2017
This is the opening piece this week by Stuart Weir, an interview with Katerine Stefanidi.
9 questions for Katerina Stefanidi
In 2016 and again in 2018 Katerina Stefanidi took bronze in the women’s pole vault in the World Indoor Athletics Championship. In the two years in between, she won the event at the Olympics, World Championship, European Championships, European Indoor Championships, the European Team Championships and took two Diamond League titles. And in 2019 she won the Garden Pole Vault Challenge
She is great vaulter but also a fun person. When it was announced that the 2020 Olympics would be in 2021, she commented on social media: “Yesterday my breakfast was eggs and oatmeal. Today it was cheesecake”.
Katerina is one of those athletes who is always a joy to talk to before or after an event. She answers questions, expresses opinions and never gives you bland answers or clichés. Having spoken to her at least five times in the past 18 months, I have edited her answers into a Q&A.
1. What do you remember about winning the World Championship in London 2017?
I remember the whole stadium dancing with great songs playing – both when I was jumping and during the ceremony the next day. That is definitely my number one memory. I also remember a feeling of confidence. I went into the competition and I almost knew that I would win. I think that’s very important in any competition but especially in the pole vault when it is such a mental event.
2. What did it mean to you to be world champion?
That’s a hard one. It is something you dream about as a kid and I think for me more than other people because I started so young – I started pole vaulting aged 10. And even before that I was already doing track and field so the idea of being Olympic champion, World champion, European champion was my big goal and my dream from a very early age. Even at 12 years old when I was crossing the road, I would say “you need to be careful because if you get hit by a car, how can you be world champion and break the world record?” But a 12 year-old doesn’t think that way. My coach and my parents at the time pushed me that way and that’s probably why I care so much more about gold medals right now it than I do about records. It’s hard to say what it feels like to but I think that gives you an idea of how important it is for me.
3. During the period you were World champion, Olympic champion, European champion did you feel unbeatable?
No. But I think my coach would have liked me to – but I didn’t. Every year is new and I think you build that confidence going into the meeting thinking that you will win no matter what. So for me, every year is new. I may have been champion last year but now I need to come out and jump good again and rebuild that confidence – and kind of catch up mentally with where I am physically. But there is definitely confidence and it is not just me being confident it’s about the other girls thinking you have been able to perform well when it mattered. But at the end of the day I still need to do it again.
4. What is the difference between competing indoors and outside?
I like competing indoors when it is like ground. I have a little bit of trouble when it is on race runways. On good runways it is OK but if there are not set up well, they can be too bouncy and they ruin my rhythm. I think outside gives me an edge because I am a very consistent vaulter. So whatever the conditions I will jump about the same. I think it affects other athletes more. So the reason I prefer outdoor is that I think it gives me an edge. I used to love indoors but it has been a little hard lately so I think I like outdoor more.
5. At Birmingham Diamond League (2019) there was a lot of wind. How do you deal with wind?
We expect it in Birmingham. I think there was only one year (2016) when we had OK conditions. [In Birmingham 2019] I decided to stop at 4.85. I think I was already a little bit scared of the bar. They were putting string round it – I have never seen that happen before – so that they can hold it in the wind. And I thought what if I get tangled in the bar, if they are not letting it fall. I just thought it is not worth the risk of injury.
Katerina Stefanidi, photo by Getty Images / Birmingham 2019
6. Why did you decide to compete in the European Team Championships in 2019 when most top athletes skip it?
First of all I wanted another competition. Also, I wanted to come back to Bydgoszcz because this is where I won world junior bronze. So it was a bit of wanting to come back to a special place for me. And I wanted to come and help the team.
But since you asked me the question I will say that this was a great competition but it would be better if European Athletics gave prize money to the athletes. This is a professional sport and we’re not volunteer athletes. This is our job so we can’t be coming here to compete and perform, do our best and break championship records for nothing. I think this could be a really great championship if they compensate the athletes.
7. You talk a lot about consistency. What do you mean by that?
Before the big bars come, before the medals and the championships, you need to be consistent and you have to jump 4.70 and 4.75 bars even in bad conditions. I think this is what builds confidence and you just know that when you get to the competitions you can get the higher bars.
Katerina Stefanidi, photo by Getty Images / Birmingham 2019
8. Women’s Pole Vault is very competitive at the moment, how do you see it?
I always say, going into a championship, if you can jump 4.85 you will get a medal. If you can do it on the first attempt, you will get gold.
9. Do you think Isinbayeva’s world record (5.06m) is attainable?
In the last three years I think the only thing I’m missing in getting the world record is the grip. I’m using the same pole as Isinbayeva but am gripping lower. And every year I get closer to my dream.
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