Athletics – Munich – Zernikel: “The war naturally makes you nervous” – Bavaria
Munich (AP) – The German pole vaulter Oleg Zernikel feels mentally better prepared for the European Championships in Munich than for the past World Cup in the USA. “Before the World Cup, I wasn’t mentally up to par. There were many other things that I was more concerned with. But in the pre-camp I managed to focus on the essential things again. I’m currently in the Flow,” said the 27-year-old in an interview with “Münchner Merkur” and “tz” (Thursday). He finished fifth at the World Cup, making him the best German participant.
When asked what was on his mind, the native Kazakh said: “The war naturally makes you nervous. As a sports soldier you think twice about it: What is happening right now? How can this end? Of course you try to help people as best as you can. I think the Czech long jumper who we have taken in at home feels very comfortable with us now,” he said. “We live on small planets in the big universe – and all problems prevail only on this planet. The focus on the sport was no longer there for me one hundred percent. But luckily I climbed out of the little low one before Eugene.”
The Ukrainian long jumper and triple jumper Maryna Bech-Romanchuk, who is not the jumper Zernikel spoke about, pointed out the strain on athletes from Ukraine. “It’s a tough time for all Ukrainian athletes. You do competitive sports, but you worry about your country, your family, your friends every day,” said the 27-year-old. This Thursday in the European Championship final, she is the competitor of world champion Malaika Mihambo, who gets along well with Bech-Romantschuk.
“Malaika is so hard to beat,” said the Ukrainian. “Malaika is so nice. I like talking to her and being around her. We’ve become really good friends.”
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