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Under-18 world champion in Nairobi, the best junior world record on the indoor track and absolute Spanish record holder in her specialty, the heptathlon,
María Vicente
(Hospitalet de Llobregat, 2001) faces her first Olympic Games ready to give the stretch. From Barcelona to Tokyo, passing through San Sebastián, where he has moved to train with
Ramón Cid
, Vicente is one of the references of the new generation of our athletics. Humble but daring and with her whole life ahead of her, see this atypical date with the emotion of that girl who already wants to play in the senior league, the place where she is truly called to shine. He admits that he is still in a learning period, but does not give up anything. Once at the Games, he says, "in Tokyo it's time to dream."
How have the Games been traditionally lived at home? My mother has really liked sport and I have loved the Games since I was little. The first ones that I remember well were those of London 2012 and I didn't miss a thing. I remember that I was on vacation in my town with my friends and whenever I played some athletics I would leave them and go home. They always told me: “But what are you doing, Maria?” You have gone from being the girl in front of the television to the athlete everyone is watching. When did you begin to realize that you could make that change? I have always done athletics because I like it and I have a great time with people. Athletics makes me happy. Yes, it is true that when I became the U18 world champion it started to be different. I had it as a hobby to pass the time,But I thought that if I managed to get there, I could train to repeat it and be on the podium also in the absolute category. With the world record, life is seen in a different way ... The truth is that it is. Once you do, you realize that you have achieved something that nobody had ever achieved and you begin to think that if the others had arrived, why couldn't I. In Tokyo, how does it take to change from being one of the covered ones to Being in the spotlight? Personally, it's something I like, I don't mind doing interviews and being very present in networks or advertisements. It catches my attention and maybe there are people who feel the pressure, but I am the opposite. If people are watching me, it is because they are supporting me. For me it is a good thing and I do not take it as a negative, I take it to the other side.Do you have the feeling that you are living very fast? It is true that I suddenly made the change and that I have remained in results. The combined is seven races and I have been improving a lot in some but in others I have not yet reached my full potential. I am growing but I have not yet given the boom, which I think may come. What grade could I still improve to be at the level of the favorites? The combined tests are long term and there are some that are very technical. You need many years to settle what you are learning and know how to internalize it. The tricky thing is to cope when something goes wrong in a competition, because you have to continue or even know how to stay focused if everything is going well. How did you get to these Games in sports? I lack experience, years of learning and internalize a lot, but I arrive in a very good level of form.It is not my turn to be fighting for the medals, I hope that in Paris or Los Angeles I can be there. You don't have to miss anything, but I will fight for the position of finalist and climb as high as possible, with the Covid situation everything will be new for everyone. Can even the lack of an audience come in handy? Yes, the fact that they are not like the usual Games can benefit me. The fact that the stadium is not looking at you and paying attention to you allows me not to have so much pressure and to be able to be more like mine. They are his first Games and he has also changed coach. Yes, Ramón and I have started working just a year ago and we have had to learn from each other many things. The main objective was to qualify but, as he himself told me, "we are classified but we are not satisfied with that, we are going for everything".What would have to happen for him to get on the podium? I think too many things would have to happen. Obviously I want to do well and it is true that in the combined there are seven tests to do well or badly. Yes, I am clear that in my strong tests such as the 200 and the hurdles, I cannot waver. Afterwards, I have all the other disciplines to try to scratch the points. We have come this far and it's time to dream.
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