In front of Marcell Jacobs there is only one goal to return to the track at the Paris Olympics. And it is the Italian himself who says it clearly, without useless pre-tactics or futile superstitions: «I will give the best of myself, the responsibility of arriving as reigning champion in Paris is great – admits Jacobs – Only two athletes have won two consecutive gold medals in the 100s and I work for that, I don’t hide.” Having passed the tests with the Coni Institute of Sports Medicine and Science at the Stadio dei Marmi, Jacobs is excited after a complicated period, as he himself admits. «When you win an Olympics you have so many expectations, after the gold I would have had to work harder on a mental level than I was already doing before». The impact of the tsunami of celebrities after Tokyo was hard to cushion, but also thanks to a newfound physical and mental shape, the blue is more than determined: «I got a little lost. But now I want to regain that title. I feel good, I’m ready and I’m fine.” Jacobs is focused on the goal, to the point of not even wanting to seek controversy or challenge with possible opponents. When asked who can compete with him today, the sprinter replies diplomatically: «At the moment no one has run really fast, there is no real number one to say that he will definitely win in Paris. Everyone is working hard to get to the top there.” No regrets for not being chosen as Italy’s standard-bearer in Paris either. Indeed, regarding the choice of his friend, Gianmarco Tamberi says: «Who better than him for the results obtained and for the way of being captain than him. At this point I’m putting myself on the list for the next Olympics.”
