FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The journey of Yipsi Moreno, Albania's sole representative at the World Championships taking place in Tokyo, has been halted since the qualifiers. The Cuban hammer throw legend, who this year joined the red-and-black national athletics team, failed to advance to the finals, recording a result below her expectations in the competition held in the Japanese capital. Moreno recorded a result of 65.38 meters, qualifying penultimate in both qualifying heats.
However, even though her result was far from expectations, Yipsi, now 44 years old, appeared very happy about her return to the World Championships, competing among the best in this discipline:
“ It was a unique and extraordinary experience… a real adventure! It was wonderful to share the field once again with the Polish champion Anita Wlodarczyk, the greatest of all time, four-time world champion, three-time Olympic champion and world record holder with 82.98 meters, who continues to shine at the age of 40. It was also exciting to compete next to the Romanian Bianca Ghelber and the young girls, who I used to be opponents of before I retired.
"Being among the new generation, led by coaches who once competed with me, is a very beautiful feeling," Yipsi said after the competition to Cuban media. The athlete then talks about returning to the most prestigious competition, such as the World Cup, after retiring from the sport. "It was a beautiful experience, but also strange, because this opportunity came at a moment when I thought I would never jump again. I came to Albania... and here I am ."
The initiator of making the former Olympic champion part of Albania was Taulant Stërmasi, the former president of the Albanian Athletics Federation, while Yipsi, tells about the transition to the ranks of Albania: " My husband, Abdel (trainer of the Albanian National Team), has a work contract that allows us to be all together as a family. In Tirana, they asked me if I would be interested in competing again, even if only in the national championship. Based on my performance, I could also participate in competitions like the Balkan Games in the third division. Abdel pushed me to try, knowing how much I love this sport and that I have always been active in the gym.
We started it as a hobby… and that's where the road took us”. Regarding the performance in Tokyo, Yipsi declares: “I was in good shape, but I didn't make it. It was, in terms of the result, the weakest race I've ever done, even though I was very prepared. Maybe I felt the same as in my first world championship in Seville '99. But in sport, physical preparation is not enough, everything has to match on that day. Maybe I was too excited. However, I'm not disappointed. On the contrary, I have reawakened the Yipsi that I have left within the world of sport and I'm using it in my life ”.
At the age of 44, Moreno reveals what makes him prouder, the Olympic title or the three world championships:
" All my medals are my pride, because each one has a story of sacrifice, not only mine, but also of my family, my husband Abdel, and my coach. My personal record (76.62 meters) has given me extraordinary satisfaction. I love all my achievements, they were earned with love". Despite the result at the world championships, Yipsi Moreno shows that she has no intention of stopping: "When I return to Albania, I will take a short break and then I will start preparing for the next season. I will give my best for two more years. In one year I have made great progress, let's see what the next two will bring ", concludes the hammer throwing legend.
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