Marcell Jacobs, side by side with the American Noah Lyles, is among the stars of the official press conference of the World Relays in Nassau (Bahamas) on the eve of the first day which offers the first 8 places for the Olympics, in each of the five relays (4×100 men and women, 4×400 men, women, mixed). Jacobs spoke thus at the conference: “I’ve had a lot of injuries in recent years and I decided to change everything. It’s the Olympic year and I’m trying to do everything to come back stronger than before“.
On the new experience in Jacksonville with coach Rana Reider
“I can’t reveal too many details about my training… I learned that in the USA a lot of work is done, especially on power. There are no days off before the races: training, training, training and then we go to the track. Now I really like it but the first month was complicated. In Italy I did an hour, an hour and a half warm up, now in half an hour you have to be ready. In general my life in Florida is very peaceful: home and field, nothing more. I’m really happy. I competed last weekend and now I’m here with my team to give everything. We are the Olympic championswe are very focused on this race and we want to qualify for Paris”.
Pressure on Paris after the two gold medals in Tokyo?
“I don’t feel pressure, just motivations to win again, even though I know it won’t be easy… now Noah ‘is the man!’” (he says winking at Lyles, one of the protagonists of the press conference)
On the TV series dedicated to athletics
“It’s been a lot of fun to be one of the stars of the Netflix series about speed. It’s a great opportunity for me and for our sport, to make it clear that we have a life beyond the track, and it’s important for people to understand how we work. I don’t see It’s time for the first episodes to come out”.
On the next commitments
“The first race upon returning to Italy on May 18th in Rome, then on May 28th in Ostrava and followed by a Diamond League stage between Oslo and Stockholm. To be ready for the European Championships in Rome”.
Meanwhile there is Nassau, with the relay and the first opportunity to fly to Paris. The possible second chance, on Sunday in the repechage round which assigns another 6 places.
