MADRID, 21 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The athlete from Salamanca Mario García, fourth classified in the 1,500 test at the Eugene 2022 World Athletics Championships, assured that he has “a bittersweet feeling” of seeing himself “so close to the medals”, although he is happy to see himself “fourth in the world ” and having managed to be the “third best Spaniard of all time” with the mark he made.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling to see me so close to the medals. Yes, it is true that it is very happy that it was ‘Mo’ (Mohamed Katir) who won the bronze medal. When I got to this championship my goal was to be in the final , but seeing myself fourth in the world, with 3:30, third best Spaniard ever, is something that has cost me a lot to assimilate,” García declared this Thursday on his return to Spain.
Now, the Spaniard is going to take “a few days of relaxation” to try to “assimilate a little” what happened in the World Cup “and then go back to work” ahead of the European Championship to be held in Munich this summer.
The middle-distance runner explained that “this week” he has had “some strange sensations”, because he felt “very fluid”. “I was in the race and I saw the time and I was a bit scared because I had never gone so fast, but going into the last lap I see myself with a lot of strength and seeing myself among the best in the world gave me a lot of motivation to try to stay there with that group. and put myself in a medal situation,” he said.
“In the end, entering the last straight, I just tried to pass people, get as close as possible to that bronze. It was very close, but it was an incredible feeling and when I crossed the finish line it was a lot of emotion,” said the 23-year-old athlete. .
“I WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT TO BE EUROPE CHAMPION”
Mario García acknowledges that now “he would like to fight to be European champion” this summer. “That has to be the goal now. It is true that the top five in the World Cup are European, but I see myself with many more options because now I have the confidence and the experience of big championships and I hope to be fighting for the medals and for that championship title.” European champion in Munich,” he said.
The man from Salamanca is going to “continue working with the same mentality”, but that his “goal has always been the 2024 Olympic Games”, where he wants to “fight for everything”. “I have already shown that I can be among the best in the world and I hope to be fighting for medals there,” he added.
“In the following World Championships, like next year in Budapest, I want to be fighting for the medals. This consists of trying to win races and once you put yourself in that situation, everyone has options and that is the goal for the next few years. “, he concluded.