Current events

Current events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC Women Long Jump – Medallists´ press conference

Brittney REESE (USA, 7,10m, WL)

“I felt right. I looked back to my jumps in Eugene, I had to improve my speed – I did. I was motivated to put out the longest jump after Tatyana had her best jump.”

Current Events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC Men Javelin Throw – Medallists´ press conference

Andreas THORKILDSEN (NOR, 89,59m, SB)

“It´s the first World Championship Gold, but I still want more. With the Olympic Games, the European- and the world title my collection is almost bigger than that of Jan Zelezny. But he is a legend and I will try to catch him. My goal is to throw well in good competitions and championships. To throw a World record you need a lot of wind. It is not possible to throw a record in this stadium.”

Current Events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC Women 4x400 Meters Relay

UNITED STATES (3:17,83min, WL)
(D. Dunn, A. Felix, L. Demus, S. Richards)

Richards: “We had a good race, all of us, and the changes were good. I loved my leg very much.”
Speaking German she said: “Berlin ist super!”

About the success of the complete US-Team …
Richards: “I think the US-performance was extremely good. We made so many final both on the track and in the field and we did great it´s good for the USA and for 2012.”

Current Events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC Men 5000 Meters

Medallists´ press conference

Kenenisa BEKELE (ETH, 13:17,09 min)

Bernard passed you, and you came back. It was a great race …
“I expected this strong race, Bernard was great in the 1500m, we made the race beautiful. I expected the others would make the pace, but it was okay that I was my own pacemaker. I will never forget this crowd – thanks to you, Berlin.”

Current Events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC: M800

Medallists press conference

MBULAENI MLAUDZI (South Africa, 1st)
“To lead was part of my plan. I have really battled in the past few championships and the past few races this year. But everything worked out in the last few weeks, I spoke to my coach and my manager and they said that the only way to run a good race was to be in control. So I led and ran a good last 200. That was it for me.”

Current Events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC: W1500

Medallists’ press conference

MARYAM JAMAL (Bahrain, 1st)
“The race was not very difficult, though there was a lot of pushing. When Spanish girl pushed past Gelete, that put me off, but I recovered.”

“I’m very disappointed that Gelete fell. I’m sure if it had not happened she would have been in the top three. The Spanish girl pushed Gelete down. Had that girl not come through and disturbed race in that way I’m sure I would have won the race.”

Current Events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC: M4x400

Medallists’ press conference

USA (1st: Angelo Taylor, Jeremy Wariner, Kerron Clement, LaShawn Merritt)
“We have the top quarter milers and top relay runners in the world so we came together and got the medal for the US.” (Lashwan Merritt)

How did you decide order?
Angelo Taylor: “No-one wanted to pop off, so I was the bunny.”
Jeremy Wariner: “I was told on the bus I was running second.”
Kerron Clement: “They said I was running third when we got here.”

Current Events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

A BIG DAY FOR THE USA

Close to half-a-million Berliners turned out on a sunny, warm Sunday to watch and cheer for the women marathoners as they followed a scenic course through the central part of the city. Everyone received equal encouragement, from the leaders to the German entrants to the Mongolian runner who trailed far behind all others. Considering the conditions, the pace was not quick, and 24 women went under the Brandenburg Gate at 20K in a lead pack, separated by only three seconds. They passed halfway in 1:13:39; 20 minutes later, the pace quickened, and the pack began to break up. At 30K, Russia’s surprising Nailya Yulamanova led a small group of five; the rest were out of medal contention. At 40K, Japan’s Yoshimi Ozaki and China’s Xue Bai were left to battle for the gold, with China’s Chunxiu Zhou closing fast on Ethiopia’s Asefelech Mergia for third. The final kilometer on the Unter den Linden belonged to Bai, who powered away for a superb victory in 2:25:15, the third-fastest win at a World Championships. Only 20 years old, this was her first championship marathon, although she has completed a total of five in the last 12 months! Her name translates to “white snow” in English -- a perfect image on a hot day. Ozaki and Mergia held on for silver and bronze medals.

Current Events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

50.754 Visitors in the Olympiastadion on the final day of the World Championships

Day nine of the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics berlin 2009™ in the Olympiastadion was attended by 50.754 visitors. The official number of spectators along the Sunday’s Women’s marathon track in the city centre of Berlin was 450.000.

Current Events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

With the last competition the starting shot for dismantling has fallen

23 August. For more than four years the Berlin Organising Committee prepared these World Championships in Athletics to provide best conditions for the athletes, spectators, partners and media representatives. The last nine days showed that they did a great job. With the last competitions today the event is over but the work is not. For the next week a lot of people will dismantle all the installations, which have been implemented for the Championships. This work is following a tight timetable as next Saturday Hertha BSC will have its home game in the stadium. The work will be done by the BOC-Staff, partners and employed service providers. Besides, about 500 volunteers will assist the main staff during the next days and complete the great job they and the 2.500 other volunteers did during the Championships.

Current Events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC: Women's Marathon - Medallists’ press conference

BAI XUE (China, 1st)

This is your fifth marathon since Beijing 2008, where did you get the power for your strong finish?

“After I won the Beijing marathon in October 2008, I was not in very good shape. Early this year, I started very good training and before competition I was in quite good shape. I am happy to win, but I think was a bit lucky because many top runners were not here today. I still have to improve to keep up with them.”

Current Events Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

A LOOK BACK AT berlin 2009™ – by Tom Casacky

The Olympiastadion will be quiet soon. The media will be gone, a few workers will be removing the electronic apparatus, and the spectators will be returning to their work, schools, or holidays. Looking back on – almost – nine days of superb competition, what will be the legacy of berlin 2009™?

First and foremost, as at all World Championships, was the competition. 2008 athletes from 202 nations contested 47 events, and in many of them achieved performances which were the year’s — and in some cases, history’s — finest. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt was the outstanding athlete of Berlin, of course, establishing new World records at 100 and 200 meters that smashed all previous ideas about the limits of human performance. Bolt is not simply the best sprinter of his generation. He is an anomaly, unlike anyone the sport has seen before, and his achievements in Berlin have ensured his status as a legend. But if there were no Bolt, and the other sprinters in his races had performed as they did here, we would still have seen a World record (by Tyson Gay) in the 100 and one of the finest 200 races of all time — such was the quality of this meeting’s sprint fields.

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

WLODARCZYK HAMMERS THE WORLD RECORD ON KENYA’S DAY

Beijing 2008 may have forever changed the face of championship marathons, if today’s men’s race was any indication. Competitors now have no qualms about starting fast and pushing the pace early: every 5K split after the first 10K was faster than any prior Championships marathon. Before thousands of enthusiastic spectators who lined almost every meter of the course, Kenyan and Ethiopian runners waged a fierce battle, and this time the Kenyans prevailed. Abel Kirui and Emmanuel Mutai, relative novices in major championship competition, broke their final opponent at 35K and pushed on relentlessly to the Brandenburger Tor. The winning time took 1:35 off the previous championship record. “Berlin is my city. I love Berlin and enjoy running here. The spectators gave me a lot of energy. So many people were screaming for me! So many emotions!” said the happy winner.

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC: Men's 4 x 100 Meters - Medallists' press conference

JAMAICA (S. Mullings, M.Fraser, U Bolt, A Powell; 37.31,CR)

Usain, this is your third gold medal this week but it was hard work...

(U. Bolt) “It was always going to be hard, these are great athletes who didn't come out to play around. I'm really tired, I didn't run a great bend”.

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC: Women Hammer Throw - Medallists´ press conference

Anita WLODARCZYK (POL, 77,96m, WR)

“It´s the happiest day of my life, I won gold, I´m on top of the world list. Immediately after I arrived at the stadium, I knew that this day will become one of the most important for our discipline.”

What happened after the second attempt?

“I did not expect that I can win the gold after the second attempt, but I afterwards I hurt my foot, so I had to pass.”

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC: Men Pole vault - Medallists’ press conference

STEVE HOOKER (Australia, 1st)

“I can’t really (believe it). It’s been a crazy fortnight. Qualifying was difficult, it was difficult to get through. To have this result tonight, I can’t believe it. These guys have been vaulting well all year. I thought maybe I would have been able to come out and get 5. 85 on the first attempt and get maybe a bronze.”

How many jumps did you think you could have?

“I thought I would have one jump in me like in the qualifying competition. In qualifying, after 5.65 I had nothing left, I wouldn’t have been able to get down the runway. After the first miss tonight I thought that was it. I walked around a bit and I felt better. I can’t answer if there was a third one in me, I don’t know.”

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC: Men Long jump - Medallists’ press conference

DWIGHT PHILLIPS (USA, 1st)

“It started off in beginning of year I had the opportunity to change coaches with Loren Seagrave. He really guided me in the right direction to make sure I didn’t overtrain and injure myself. I made a commitment I was going to work hard, and smart. I want to thank all the people who have helped me along the way.”

Could you believe you would regain your world championship?

“In the beginning of the season I was working hard, got my body balanced and in first meet I jumped 8.51. I knew I would win the world championship then. Normally I start lower and build. I knew I was going to get stronger.”

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC: Women 4x100 Meters Relay - Medallists´ press conference

JAMAICA (42,06s) (S. Facay, S. Fraser, A. Bailey, K. Stewart)

Was it very easy to win?

“It is never easy to win, because everybody wants a medal, especially gold – we all enjoy celebrating now.”

After going out last year in Beijing you had extra motivation?

“It was exciting, we wanted to be better this year and finish.”

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC: Women 5000 Meters - Medallists´ press conference

Vivian CHERUIYOT (KEN, 14:57,97m)

“Silver in Osaka, now Gold in Berlin - I am very satisfied. We really have good teamwork, which was our advantage. The federation keeps us in Kenya to train and support us well. I want to thank my husband in Kenya and all Kenyans – we will sing and dance.”

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

Jury of Appeal Decision 4x400m Relay Men Heat 2

Following Heat 2 of the 4x400m Relay Men, the team of the Bahamas was disqualified under Rule 170.8 as the second runner on the team started before the takeover zone.

The Bahamian Team lodged a protest with the Referee, who declined it.

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

Owen’s and Long’s Granddaughters presented men’s long jump medals to Phillips & Mokoena

At the Olympic Games in 1936 in Berlin the US-American Jesse Owens became a legend by winning four gold medals. The German long jumper Luz Long won silver after helping Jesse Owens to get qualified by giving him advice. The two athletes became good friends and even today, after their death, the families are good friends. On Saturday night Jesse Owens’ granddaughter Marlene Dortch and Luz Long’s Julia-Vanessa Long presented the medals for the men’s long jump in honour of their grandfathers to winner Dwight Phillips, second placed Godfrey Khotso Mokoena and third ranked Mitchell Watt.

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

59.926 Visitors in the Olympiastadion on day eight of the World Championships

Day eight of the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in the Olympiastadion was attended by 59.926 visitors (sold out). The official number of spectators comprises of sold tickets for every competition day, the members of the IAAF family as well as parts of the volunteers. In the morning, 700.000 spectators watched the marathon in the city centre.

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

IT Troubleshooter Karlbernd Bögemann: ‘’Boogey”-Time in Berlin

Karlbernd Bögemann (48), IT Manager of the BOC and responsible that all computers are working properly during the 12th IAAF World Championship in Athletics, had three and a half years to prepare for the job in Berlin. Before that, “I was self employed and had a little rat-shop on the island of Ruegen”. Today he’s heading a team of some 60 highly motivated IT volunteers from all over Germany and some from abroad.

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

Jan Gerit Keil: The only volunteer, who has been coach during the world championships, too

The term ‘multitasking’ was originally used in connection with computers . Today, 36-year-old volunteer and coach Jan Gerit Keil is a living example of this ability at these 12th World Championships in Athletics.

For 18 years, the former long and triple jumper has been a high jump trainer. In Berlin, he was one of the official coaches of the German team and the head coach of the German high jumpers under 18 and under 20 years of age. “That’s not surprising. When my mum was pregnant with me, she was in the stadium in Munich when Ulrike Meyfarth won Olympic gold,” he smiles.

Current Events Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

berlin 2009™ LOC: Men Marathon – Medallists´ press conference

Abel KIRUI (KEN, 2:06,54hs, CR)

“I can say Berlin is a very nice city, like the spectators too. There I had three great races. But I never thought that I would become World champion. I loved this marathon course, I could get water everywhere, the spectators also are everywhere.”

Now you ran Championship record, is the World record possible too?

“Yes I´ll try to run 2:03. It is possible in the near future, may in Berlin next year. But it needs a good commitment in the training and some vitamins.”

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12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics berlin 2009™

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