Quotes from today’s adidas Grand Prix teleconference with David Rudisha

David Rudisha, the 800-meter World Record-holder, says he’s excited to come to the U.S. for the first time but that he’s all about the adidas Grand Prix on June 9, not seeing the sights. “I’m going there with one mission,” he said in a media conference call on Tuesday morning. “I want to go there and do something good.” He says he’s aiming to run 1:42, so “good” could turn out to be the fastest 800 ever run on U.S. soil. The record is 1:42.58, set by Vebjorn Rodal of Noway at the 1996 Olympic Games.

Link to audio of the teleconference: http://www.diamondleague-newyork.com/Global/New-York/rudisha-conf.mp3

Select quotes from the teleconference:

On how he’s dealing with the pressure of the Olympic year:

This year, I know it’s a very tough year because it’s an Olympic year, but we are doing well. The important thing is the training, and so far the training is going on well, and my body is responding. Everything is fine. This year is going to be very tough because every competitor is really working hard to see that they perform to their best during the Olympics.

On what it means to compete in the United States—specifically New York—for the first time:

Wow, I’m very excited to come to the U.S. for the first time, and of course to compete in New York. I heard much about the city and the people, and I’ve been watching the races previously when the athletes compete over there. I’m so excited for this adidas meet. They are my sponsors, and I’m very happy to be there and compete there for the first time, and of course having never competed there in my career, it’s going to be something special for me.

On his main competition in the 800m:

I know there are rivals and tough guys to compete with, but I like to have the mentality that it’s not good to focus on one or two people being your rival. The important thing is to just train hard for the competition and prepare for the races so that you are able to handle anything that comes out of it. 

On if he’s capable of breaking 1:40 and his ideal splits if he attacks the world record again:

To run 1:40 is possible. I am planning still to do that because I think I can still go under 1:41, but it’s tough. And world record is very hard to break it, even if it is your own world record. You need to do some good planning also on how to do it. I am looking forward to that but my plan is the world record will be after the Olympics. I’m keeping my focus, my main concentration to the Olympics, which is the only main title I’m still lacking in my career. I don’t want to take any time or do anything else before I finish that task.

On the differences in training & strategy in winning a major championship title vs. lowering the world record:

The way I trained in 2010, it was a different training because that year I was focusing for the world record, focusing for the fast races. The way I trained that year was a little bit different to 2011, which was tactical training because of the World Championships in Daegu last year. This year I’m trying to mix the 2010 training with 2011 to see if I can get it for the Olympics. Then after the Olympics I’ll have that good training for the world record. That is what we are trying to do. … I’m trying to build and mix everything to be in position.

On where the meet in New York fits in his preparations for the Olympics:

I started in Australia [at the Qantas Melbourne Track Classic] with 1:44.3. Coming to Doha [for the Samsung Diamond League meeting], I did 1:43.1. Always I want in my program, if everything goes well, just to keep on improving. Let’s say, if I did 1:43.10 in Doha then I want to reduce that time, to go a little bit down. Maybe what I’ll be focusing in New York will be 1:42. That will be a good preparation as part of my training.

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