Linda Stahl

Just over a year ago, Germany’s Linda Stahl upset the odds to win the javelin gold medal at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona, rising to the occasion with a personal best of 66.81m.

However, perhaps it shouldn’t have been such a big surprise as she had also thrown personal best distances at the two previous World Championships and also when winning at the 2007 European Athletics U23 Championships.

Now she is looking for a similar performance in order to get on the podium at a global event for the first time, after finishing eighth and sixth at the last two World Championships in Osaka and Berlin.

In an interview with the German athletics federation website Stahl talks her difficult season and her expectations for Daegu.

Q: Linda, a year ago, you celebrated a sensational triumph in Barcelona. However, this season, things haven’t gone so well in ahead of the World Championships (which start in the South Korean city of Daegu on Saturday). Do you see any reasons for the way things have gone this season?

A: Neither I nor my coach Helge Zöllkau have found an explanation. My results ​​in training are sometimes better than last year. I have simply not managed to find my best performance in competition. Until April, it went well; then there were problems. I've been having problems with my run up. At the German Championships, I even had to count my steps, which has never happened to me before. My 57.67m in Kassel (at the German Championships) was almost a standing throw.

Q: How’s your confidence now?

A: Of course, you often doubt yourself but I hope that I can turn the corner at the World Championships in Daegu. I've always been a late starter to the season, now I am simply trying to get a clear head. In the past, I have often thrown only 50 metres in training but then thrown over 60 metres in competition.

Q: What can you learn from this, you were on top a year ago but now you have to deal with a lot of criticism?

A: It is not difficult to be successful, but to remain successful. I still remember fondly the (European Athletics) U23 Championships. At that time, I have a bet with (discus thrower) Martin Wierig that I would win despite my modest results before that competition. Until then, I had not thrown over 60 metres but by the end of the U23 European Championships I had a gold medal and 62.17m to my name. Martin also took the title. The situation now is similar.

Q: In your opinion, what is the big difference between performance in competition and performance in training?

A: In training, I just do not often have any pressure. Before the competition, I'm fully focused; I listen to my iPod, often songs by Sean Paul and just try to keep calm. It is very important that my coach Helge Zöllkau is in the vicinity. He doesn’t talk with me, but it just gives me security if he is there.

Q: Have you invested more time this year in your medical studies and that’s why your performances are not so good?

A: Absolutely not. I was even given a year off to allow me to fully concentrate on the javelin. After the European Championships triumph, it was amazing how big the demand was in the media for me. No, medical school is certainly not the reason why I haven’t done so well this season.

Q: Where do you see as the strengths of your coach Helge Zöllkau, who is known as one of the best javelin coaches in the world?

A: Helge Zöllkau is always calm. Only in my qualifying round in Barcelona, was he slightly nervous because I almost didn’t get through. He explains things to you and it's the mixture of fun, discipline and precise instructions in the training which ultimately lead to success.

Q: How is your relationship with the other German javelin colleagues?

A: Katharina Molitor and I know each other very well. She trains with me in Leverkusen and is now also my roommate in the training camp on the island of Jeju. With Christina (Obergföll), I get on well but we just see each other at the major international events.

Q: Who are you for the favourites for the World Championships?

A: It will be the known quantities like Barbara Špotáková, Russia’s Mariya Abakumova and because of the previous season, Christina Obergföll. However, I am sure that Katharina Molitor will feature in Daegu.

source: european-athletics.org