English
Kariem Hussein, 400m hurdles
"I’m always my own doctor."
Kariem Husssein, medical student who, being ill a while ago, stayed in bed for an entire week.
David Rudisha, 800m
"Everything started for me here in Lausanne."
David Rudisha, triple winner at Athletissima – he started off as a college-boy – will be looking to win a fourth time on Thursday.
Allyson Felix, 200m or 400m
"After Athletissima, I’ll choose whether I’ll run the 200m or the 400m at the Beijing World Championship in August. I’m the only athlete to compete on these two distances."
In China Allyson Felix, SB in 21’’98 on 200m at Doha, will also compete for the 4x400m USA relay.
"I don’t know who has the Athletissima meeting record on 200m." Nice to know for Allyson Felix, it’s Jamaican Merlene Ottey, running in 22’’07 in 1995.
Asafa Powell, 100m
"The younger generation will have to wait a little more, we are still very fast."
The Jamaican also spoke about Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin. "Is Gatlin invincible ? He thinks so, but I think the can be beaten."
"I think it’s great to have the best sprinters in the same race in a meeting. It allows us to improve aspects of our race for the Championships or Olympics to come."
Tyson Gay, 100m
"We’ve been running together for a while (with Powell and Gatlin). We aren’t going to step down yet for the younger generation."
"I’m looking forward to run Thursday at Athletissima, to compete against the best. It’s a good thing, to face one another tomorrow."
"Can Gatlin be beaten ? Absolutely but to do so you have to be in your best physical shape."
"Our generation of sprinters has committed mistakes, but we mustn’t be compared to what has happened in the past. Ok, we made mistakes but we have worked hard to come back to our best level; this deserves respect, for our sport too."
Jasmine Stowers, 100mH
"The problem in the US is that we have 8 out of 10 top hurdlers." "Dawn Harper-Nelson made an amazing accomplishment, winning the USA nationals."
"Dawn Harper-Nelson could be a mentor for us, for the preparation of the Olympics."
Sharika Nelvis, 100mH
"Every time we [Jasmine and Sharika] race each other, we push each other. It’s a motivation."
"The 100m is about speed as for the 100mH is all footwork."
"She [Dawn Harper-Nelson] is a very friendly person."
Pedro Pablo Pichardo, triple jump
"When I compete here in Lausanne, I felt good. My sensations here are always good."
"I’m not thinking about the world record yet. For now I’m focussing on hard work."
"The Cuban tradition is a key motivation for the athletes, most of them jumping over 17m. Teddy Tamgho also is a big influence."
Renaud Lavillenie, pole vault
"I keep repeating that I’m not invincible."
A Pole Vault competition is never won until it’s over.
Renaud Lavillenie mentions his defeat in Paris last Saturday. "I would like to find a meeting without anyone expecting me to do a big performance."