Sport - Athletics

Olsson, hungry for success at Olympics

BERGEN (NORWAY), JUNE 11. Triple jumper Christian Olsson is arguably the favourite for the US$1 million jackpot given to the athletes who wins his event at all six Golden League meets. But he would rather win an Olympic gold medal.

"Of course the Olympics are most important for me," the Swedish star said on Thursday, the day before the Bislett Games, the opening league event.

"But I've already signed up to compete in all Golden League meets, no matter if I'm still in the race for the jackpot or not. I think it's a golden opportunity for my preparations to the Olympic Games."

The world outdoor and indoor champion, Olsson is one of the best tips in any track and field event for Olympic gold at Athens in August.

Winning that elusive medal was just one goal this season. Jumping 18 metres was another.

"I can do it," he said. "I think I've been a little bit too much obsessed with trying to break the 18-metre barrier. I need to be more relaxed about it, concentrate on my technique, my preparations and my training.

"I think I've been doing that so far. My ability to break the 18-metre barrier is greater than it's ever been before."

Olsson tied the world indoor record of 17.83 at the World indoor championships in Budapest in March. Two weeks ago at his first outdoor meet, he hit 17.61 in Turin, Italy, outclassing his rivals.

Olsson's personal record outdoors of 17.77, set last year, still was well short of the world mark of 18.29 by Jonathan Edwards of Britain in Olsson's hometown of Goteborg, Sweden, during the 1995 World championships.

"I hope to challenge it some day, maybe this year, maybe next year," Olsson said. "First of all it's the Olympic Games for me now. I would even trade a world record to be an Olympic gold medallist. So all concentration will be on that, then the first 18-metre jump, and then aim for the world record."

Olsson guaranteed he'd break one of Edwards' records on Friday at the Bislett Games — the Briton's stadium record of 17.23 from 2000 at Bergen's refurbished Fana Stadium.

"It will be gone tomorrow for sure," Olsson said.

Also set to feature was Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, the 2001 and 2003 world champion in the 400m hurdles, and who had eight of the 10 fastest times last year as the only sub-48-seconds runner.

Unbeaten in the last three years, Sanchez has won 29 straight finals.

"I'd like to get No. 30 tomorrow... it's a nice round number," he said. — AP

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu