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Berlin (AP) - Malaika Mihambo has accelerated her pace in order to pick up speed in the direction of the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
"It's not as difficult as I thought it would be," said the long jump world champion after winning the Istaf Indoor track and field athletes in Berlin.
The return to the long run-up with 20 instead of the last 16 steps has not yet worked perfectly.
It was enough for 6.77 meters and first place, but not a seven-meter set.
«I don't have a fixed pattern in my head for the optimal start.
There is still potential to improve it, "said the 27-year-old two-time" Sportswoman of the Year ".
In Berlin she had "two and a half times" with six jumps the feeling that the run-up had been successful.
Now she hopes to win him at the German championships on 20./21.
February in Dortmund and at the European Indoor Championships at the beginning of March in Torun / Poland - and to create the basis for the big jump on August 3rd in Tokyo.
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After winning the World Championship title with 7.30 meters, the exceptional athlete from the LG Kurpfalz is the top favorite for Olympic gold.
«In principle, it's the goal.
But you should never be too sure, »said Mihambo cautiously.
"It is better to go into competition with humility."
At the moment, she is neither concerned with the possible Tokyo triumph nor with the summer games threatened by the pandemic.
“For me, it's about always remaining optimistic and adapting flexibly to the given situation,” explained Mihambo.
"During the Corona crisis I learned to think about this in small steps and from week to week."
That's why she banned the Olympics in the back of her mind.
The successes at the indoor meetings in Düsseldorf and Berlin within a week were a good start - no other woman has reached 6.77 meters this year.
“This is going in the right direction,” said Mihambo.
The longer run-up increases the speed from approximately 9.3 to 9.8 meters per second and offers more freedom of variation right up to the jump board: "It is not as compressed and feels better."
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In the Olympic year, she not only wants to dash to the sand pit at speeds of up to 35 kilometers per hour to win precious metal in Japan, but perhaps also exceed the 7.30 meters.
It would be possible.
"Certainly, but that is not a given either," said Mihambo.
“You have to work hard for that.
It interests me.
If there should be such a jump, I would be very happy. "
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210206-99-326325 / 2
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