He World Athletics Championship indoors will experience its 19th edition this weekend in Glasgow with the Catalan as a great option for the podium and with great stars such as Duplantis, Noah Lyles, Holloway, Gudaf Tsegay, Femke Bol and Devynne Charlton, among others.
The world champion Mariano García, Asier Martínez, Adel Mechaal and Ana Peleteiro are the other great Spanish options in an event in which two years ago in Belgrade he achieved gold in ‘La Moto’ in 800 and silver in 4×400 meters.
María Vicente faces the pentathlon with the best world record of the year and new record for Spain (4,728) in her return to the combined events after a year dedicated only to horizontal jumps due to physical problems after undergoing surgery.
Under the orders of former federation technical director Ramón Cid, the Catalan has progressed in all the events and now faces her first major revalidation as a senior after winning everything at the world and European level in lower categories. In the face of this great revalidation, the ‘combinera’ was sincere with SPORTfrom the Prensa Ibérica group.
He couldn’t do combined last year, but he insisted on competing and was one centimeter away from the final in long and triple at the World Championships…
I never give up and always fight for my goals. I knew that 2023 would be difficult, but I didn’t want a blank year and we opted for horizontal leaps. I have the length in combined and triple, because I train with Ramón, who loves it. I had a great time despite those thorns in Budapest.
María Vicente, optimism and ambition in equal parts. / EFE
Has your coach Ramón Cid also had to act as a psychologist?
I’m not telling you that he was more of a psychologist than a coach, but almost. He has been key. This relationship we have is very important, because we spend many hours together. I see him more than my roommates!
And how optimistic he is!
Ha ha. Sometimes she comes and tells me, María, I just blew you away in an interview. And I tell him, calm down, paint it a little worse. That she dreams and that she sees things the same as me makes me super happy.
Did the injury precipitate her change from girl to woman, so to speak?
Not so much the injury as it is an Olympic year. I had to say, damn, María, get your act together and recover 101%, because this is what you like. I want to continue living with this for a long time.
How did you live those hard months?
It was difficult. In recovery it hurt me to go to the track and see everyone at their best when I went from two crutches to one. But look, at the same time I was happy, because I knew I would make it. It’s surreal. It was hard and beautiful because of that struggle of rowing against the current. I have been lucky to be surrounded by specialists who have guided me very well.
Vicente, four years ago in the old SPORT editorial office / Javi Ferrándiz
Did you expect the record of Spain on your return to the combined?
I went to France without aim. If it didn’t go well, everyone would understand that he hadn’t had a combination for a year. I went without pressure and ended up a little surprised, because it is difficult to fit everything in after so much time. I am ambitious and everything went very well. That has given me a lot of happiness, because all the winter work has been worth it.
Was your gold in the 60 hurdles at the Nationals very important?
I lived it very intensely because of what it entailed. Tere (Errandonea) had just announced her goodbye and being with her by her side has been key to my improvement in the hurdles. It was very significant and the mark, well look, 8.06.
Do you look at the ranking a lot?
Let’s see, I know who’s going and that I’m going first, but Ramón looks at it more. I don’t like to focus on what I can’t handle. I want to give my best version and get the maximum points, trying to improve my personal record. We’ll see where that leads.
María Vicente, before traveling to Glasgow. /RFEA
If she passes 4,800 points, will she be happy?
Yes, one hundred percent. I do not have any doubt. Everyone wants medals and results, I have always said that I want the triple crown.
Do you see yourself fighting for gold?
Gold is a dream I have always had. You have to set high goals and there they are. I will fight to get one of them in Glasgow and if not, don’t worry, I’ll continue.
How do the scandals with him feel to you? doping in Spain?
Fatal, because they are staining athletics in general. With so many execution failures, everyone can be distrusted and it doesn’t seem fair to me. Let them change what has to change, let them catch who they have to catch and leave us alone.
2024-03-01 07:04:29
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