Slovene media refer to athlete Jolanda Čeplak as the first lady of Slovene sports. At the Olympic games in Athens she was considered one of Slovenia’s big favourites and fulfilled expectations with her bronze medal in the 800-metre run.
How do you see the results of Slovenia’s participation at the Olympic games in Athens?
Slovenia is a small country and four medals are a great achievement indeed. It is true that we did not win gold, but nevertheless … For us athletes each medal won is as if it were gold, since it involves a lot of work, training, effort and self-discipline. Our other athletes who came home without a medal were also excellent. Some of them came within a hair's breadth of reaching the winner’s podium.
My bronze in the 800-metre run feels like gold to me. The race was tense and I believe that my supporters must have given up hope somewhere in the middle of the race. However, I managed to squeeze out the very last molecules of energy and secure the medal in the end.
You were considered a favourite. Were you exposed to any considerable pressure because of that?
I felt under great pressure as early as two months preceding the Olympic games, when the entire Slovene media saw me in the shoes of a gold winner. And it was particularly hard for me to compete because of that. At the semi-finals I was not completely sure I would psychologically endure all of that. But it all turned out well in the end.
What is your key to success?
I do my utmost at training sessions. I do not allow myself any indulgences, I am stubborn, I work a lot and persistently. My family and closest friends often tell me that I am too severe on myself, but this is who I am and this is my way of working.
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