byStuart WeirStuart Weir visited the 2022 WA Indoor Presser on Thursday, March 17, 2022. This is his highlights of the presser that was held in Belgrade, Serbia earlier today. Watch for our daily coverage of the 2022 World Indoor Athletics Championships.
Veselin Jevrosimovic and Ivana Vuleta, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
2022 WA Indoor Belgrade Presser, by Stuart Weir
Damian Warner
Damian Warner, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
“Last year was obviously very good for me and I’m not exactly sure where I am at the moment. When you have had a good season, you want to build on it. I’m healthy and based on what I’ve seen so far, I think I’m in pretty good shape. I am 32 so I am one of the old guys here but I have learned a lot along the way. In 2018 I was second by five points and that’s still eating at me so it would be nice to go out and amend that. ”
[Editor’s note: In Birmingham WIC in March 2018, Kevin Mayer scored 6348 to Damien Warner’s 6343]
Ivana Spanovic Vuleta
Ivana Spanovic Vuleta, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
“I am really happy that I will be defending my title in front of my home crowd, my people. I want to use all that energy. I don’t want to make a big announcement but I think I am capable of jumping that [7.24] again or better.
Asked about Malaika Mihambo not competing, she joked that she was pleased, before adding: “I love strong competition because those are the moments that you can produce your best but I always think that I am competing only against myself because I know what I am capable of”.
Ivana Vuleta, photo by Stuart Weir
Marcel Jacobs
Marcel Jacobs, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
“I am happy to be here today because I used to watch the press conferences because I had not been invited. So I am pleased that I had been invited today! Belgrade has not the best memories for me because I was here for the European indoors in 2017, one of the favorites in the long jump but did not make the final. Then I got injured and the injury is the reason why I switched from the long jump to the sprints. I am thankful now for the injury because that is why I am now the double Olympic champion. I am happy with how the season has gone but I know that I can get better.
Asked about his false start in Belgrade recently, he commented: “I’m glad it happened then rather than this week!”
Marcel Jacobs, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
Keely Hodgkinson
Keely Hodgkinson, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
“Last year was a whirlwind, just one thing to another. After the Olympics, I was still doing Diamond Leagues so it wasn’t until the winter that I was able to stop and process. I really enjoyed last year and it’s all about managing my time and prioritizing my training because that’s what puts me where I am.
Asked about 2022, she said: “it is a new challenge for British athletes having four championships and nobody quite knows how it will go. Physically is possible to do all four, but mentally: we’ll see. With championships, there is so much adrenalin, so much emotion. Outdoors, my priority will be the world championship and the commonwealth games because of the home event. The Europeans? I’d like to be there but we’ll see how my body is.”
Marcel Jacobs, Keely Hodgkinson, Ryan Crouser, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
Veselin Jevrosimovic, President of Serbian Athletics Federation
Veselin Jevrosimovic, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
Veselin Jevrosimovic, president of the Serbian Athletics Federation, was quick to tell the press conference that there had been demonstrations on the street in support of Ukraine as well as Russia.
Ryan Crouser
Ryan Crouser, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
“I’m excited to be here. I have wanted to do a world indoors since 2016 but that hasn’t been on the cards for me. I do like competing indoors. I am very analytical and indoors means one less variable to worry about. I like Belgrade. I was fortunate enough to come here in 2020 to do a street event to promote this championship. The city of Belgrade, at the confluence of the two rivers, has so much history. I look forward to coming back sometime.
Asked about Doha 2019, arguably the greatest shot put competition ever, he said: “I’ll do my best (to reproduce that), three athletes within 1 cm and four breaking the championship record. I don’t know if we will see that again and for my sake, I hope we don’t! Men’s shot is very strong and very deep at the moment. This week we are just missing Joe Kovacs. All the other big athletes are here. I can’t wait to get out and compete and the world indoor record is 22.90 meters. “
Ryan Crouser, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
