Katerina Stefanidi, World, European and Olympic Pole Vault Champion, and her deep thoughts from 2018 NYRR Millrose Games presser!

Ekaterina Stefanidi is the 2016 Olympic champion in the pole vault. Just prior to the Olympics, Ekaterina won the 2016 European Outdoor Championships.

Ekaterina Stefanidi, 2017 London World Championships, photo by PhotoRun.net

In 2017, she won the European Indoor Championships, and in London, Stefanidi won both the London World Championships and the Diamond League.

Stefanidi is a fine competitor and that is her secret sauce. She is on a role with four global wins so far in the past two years. She has also cleared 4.91m , the Greek National record.

Ekaterina Stefanidi, photo by PhotoRun.net

The NYRR Millrose Games is epic, with 2012 Olympic champion Jenn Suhr (2016 World Indoor Champ), World Indoor and World Outdoor silver medalist (also Rio Olympic silver medalist) Sandi Morris and Ekaterina Stefanidi.

Make sure you watch this pole vault!

Here’s a short interview with Ekaterina Stefanidi, thanks to Media Manager Nick Nicholas of the NYRR Millrose Games with our esteemed hurdler.

The 111^th NYRR Millrose Games can be seen on USATF.TV from 11:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturday and will be televised live by NBC from 4-6 p.m. There also is the USATF Cool Down show beginning at 6 p.m.

Go to NYRRMillroseGames.org to learn more about the NYRR Millrose Games and to purchase tickets to the Saturday, February 3, 2018meet.

To read the interview, please look below!

1. You’re Olympic champion and a World champion, why are you still doing this?

(everyone laughs)

Ekaterina Stefanidi: “I don’t know. There is more. I have a bronze in the indoor World Championships so I want to make that a gold. Then I’ll have a whole collection of gold. Then you can ask me the question again after that. No, at this point in my career I have achieved everything I’ve ever dreamed of. I’m still here because I love pole vaulting and I love competing, but I feel I’m now pole vaulting for a greater purpose – to inspire young kids especially since I come from a small country like Greece. Inspire young kids where they can see that it doesn’t matter what your background is, your race or where you came from. You can achieve anything that you dream and work for.”

2. How is Sandi Morris going to beat you (they are seated side by side)?

Ekaterina Stefanidi: “I told you yesterday but we can’t say it out loud (everyone laughs).. It was confidential”

I’m very excited to compete at Meeting de Paris for the first time on February 7th! Who is coming to watch? Now let’s try my French… Je suis très excité d’être à le Meeting de Paris pour la première fois en Février. Qui viendra regarder? 🙏🏼 #itried #didisayitright #polevault #meetingdeparisindoor #paris #trackandfield #athletics @ffathletisme

A post shared by Katerina Stefanidi (@stefanidi_katerina) on Jan 31, 2018 at 9:40am PST