Yamile Aldama (SUD) takes silver in Budapest's Triple Jump final (© Getty Images)
Sudan’s Cubanborn triple jumper Yamile Aldama, the World Indoor silver medallist, wants to erase her Olympic disappointment last year with an attempt at winning the TDK Golden League Jackpot, and the World Championships, to be held in Helsinki, Finland.
The 32-year-old who began her season not to well when jumping in Karlsruhe, Germany on Sunday (13.95, 4th) has only recently returned to her London base after a two-month stay in her native Havana, where she celebrated Christmas and New Year's with her family and started to train for the 2005 season.
”I arrived in Havana with a bit of an injury in my left leg and I was training there for just one session a day, said a smiling Aldama who was accompanied by her 3-year old son Amil. She expects to represent her adopted continent in the Africa-USA outdoor meet, to be held in Abuja, Nigeria, on 12 March.
Exceptionally competitive event
The 2004 World Indoor Championships silver medallist, who is currently weighing 63.5 kilos, a bit more than her ideal 61, confirmed, “I will try to win the Golden League. I know the women's Triple Jump is very competitive, Lebedeva, Mbango and others, but I always aim at the very top.”
Aldama already has the Golden League experience of 2003, with two wins in Oslo and Rome, but a narrow loss to Russia's World champion Tatyana Lebedeva (15.12 to 15.08) in Paris ended her Jackpot aspirations. That competition (in the French capital) “was one of the best I had in 2003”, Aldama recalled. Aldama took part in 14 meets in 2003, five more than in 2004.
The 2005 TDK Golden League campaign kicks off in Paris on July 1, followed by the Golden Gala in Rome (July 8) and the Bislett Games in Oslo-Bergen (July 29). With two main goals this year, “I don't want to compete as much as I did in 2003. I plan to jump in Ostrava, London and a few other meets before the World Championships.” After, the Golden League continues in Zurich (August 19), Brussels (August 26) and ends in Berlin, on 4 September. The IAAF World Athletics Final is also in her schedule.
Seeking a second outdoor World Championships medal
Helsinki will be very special as well as it will mark her return to the outdoor World Championships after her silver medal performance representing her native Cuba in 1999. She missed both the championships in Edmonton (2001) and in Paris (2003).
”I hope to have a good return to the World Championships, but I have to take good care of possible injuries, that have always affected me.”
She admits to having improved her speed substantially. “I coordinate the run-up and the take-off well. I still have to work on the third jump and have a better coordination with my arms. I use the same technique as the men do, but you have to be very strong in your upper body and I am not.’ As a former high jumper, “I jump too high and lose part of my speed. I need to jump more horizontally.”
Only 21cm off the World record (15.50), set 10 years ago by Ukraine's Inessa Kravets, Aldama believes that mark will not remain intact for so long. “The record will fall soon and women can reach 16 metres.”
High Jump beginnings
Looking back at her Athens Olympic performance, Aldama considers that her 15.28m win in Linz, three weeks before, limited her Olympic aspirations (she finished fifth). "But I don't want to look back, I want to think ahead. My son Amil and my love for sport keep me going and motivated.”
Aldama who was the first non-European to reach the 15m mark continues her preparation in London under coach Frank Atoh's guidance. Training partners include Jamaica's Olympic finalist Trecia Smith and Great Britain's Larry Achike.
The 2004 African champion also does sprints and High Jumps competitions to help her club in local competitions in London, where she lives. She has a High Jump personal best of 1.88m (1992), a mark she repeated in 2003. Actually, the Hugh Jump gave her first international success, when she claimed the 1988 Central American and Caribbean Junior title in Nassau, Bahamas.
2008 goal
In Aldama’s opinion, the women's Triple Jump has improved a lot. “The level is high and women are very consistent. It is equally or more competitive than the men's event.” Even in Africa, she has many rivals like Cameroon's Olympic champion Françoise Mbango-Etone, Senegal Kéné Ndoye and Algeria's Baya Rahouli.
”Staying injury-free is my main focus and I would like to retire with an Olympic medal in Beijing 2008. I want to spend more time with my son and have other kids,” she concluded.
By an IAAF Correspondent
