The World Athletics Championships in Budapest will begin on Saturday with the men’s 20 km walk at 8.50 a.m., a test in which the Spanish delegation has well-founded medal options, especially with Álvaro Martín from Llerena (gold in the last two European Championships), Diego García from Madrid (bronze in the last European Championship and silver in 2018) and with Luis Alberto Amezcua. Later, next Thursday from seven in the morning it will ‘double’ in the 35 km.
Barely a month away from finishing law school, Álvaro Martín arrived in Budapest on Tuesday and already has weapons facing a new universal revalidation after his sensational fourth place in the Tokyo Games and seventh in the last World Cup. After getting close to his first podium at the universal level, Hungary presents himself as an opportunity that he does not want to miss.
The Spanish medal options, concentrated in six tests
With 29 years and in full maturity, has become one of the most critical voices against the institutions in a staunch defense of the march, the specialty that has brought the most joy to Spanish athletics and which is in danger of death due to the hostile policy maintained by the International Olympic Committee and World Athletics without the Spanish Federation having tried to stop it vehemently. Martín explained his expectations by telephone in a conversation with Prensa Ibérica, focusing for now on the 20 km.
First of all, how are you almost on the eve of the 20 km on Saturday?
The sensations are very good, because I am having the most regular season of my life and I arrive in the best possible shape for the World Cup.
It could reach 30 degrees the day after tomorrow during the test. Can a handicap or have it controlled?
Let’s see, the heat can be a determining factor for everyone, but it hasn’t surprised me that much. We are in summers and we knew that it could be hot even if we talk about Budapest. Also, for those of us from the south it can be a little easier and we have just done a great job in Font Romeu.
Are you more concerned about Álvaro Martín or his rivals?
Neither one nor the other. I don’t care about the rivals and as for me I’m in pretty good shape, so I’m calm in both things. In the end, the brands we carry are only references and the important thing will be what we are capable of doing on Saturday.
In the Spanish Championship, he tested himself in the 10,000-meter walk and won with authority, although he ended up slowing down. Was he satisfied?
It was a test and I value it positively, although it is true that I slowed down a bit in the last kilometers. It was very hot and very humid in Torrent, but I felt quite well and the conclusions were positive.
Do you value fourth place in the Games more than the gold medals in the last two European Championships?
Of course and also without any doubt. You have to be ambitious. The two European titles are important, but we are working to be on top in the World Cups and the Games. I even value seventh place in the Doha World Cup as much as those two golds, because we want to aspire to the maximum.
He has set himself up as a spokesman for the march before the cacicada of the institutions, who want to put an end to it…
Well, many others have also raised their voices, huh? We are living in an unprecedented situation and I sincerely believe that we have to continue fighting. It’s an extra-sporting issue and now what matters is the competition, but it’s my line of behavior and I’m going to continue maintaining it.
You have developed part of your career, but McGrath (under’23 European gold) or Sofía Santacreu (gold world sub’20)…
It’s a shame especially for them! I have already done my career. It hurts me a lot for the new generations, because many jewels of the march would be spoiled. Even so, we are optimistic and in the end, together, we will be able to rescue the march.
Now it’s time to claim again and offer a show…
And show that the march has a present and a future. International athletes are in contact, but now we are going to meet and we have to talk if we do some symbolic action like in Podebrady.
What remains of Álvaro Martín who was fifth in the Junior World Cup in Barcelona’12?
11 years is a lot (laughs). I have improved in many aspects such as experience, but I maintain my ambition and the desire to learn and keep fighting, because I have not yet reached my limit.
Finally, do you have a clear career plan?
I have several scenarios and I see myself prepared to master any of them well. I arrive in my best shape and the objective is to show off all the work we have done, first on Saturday in the 20s and then on Thursday in the 35s. In that case I would be satisfied.
2023-08-16 17:52:00
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