Anthony Zambrano, silver medalist in the 400m at the last Tokyo Olympics, He is ready to face the hard road that will take him to the top of the podium at the 2024 Paris jousts.
He comes from being second in the City of Salamanca Athletics Trophyhis first competition after Tokyo, and is getting ready to go for gold in the Valledupar Bolivarian Games, the first big step in this Olympic cycle.
His big goal this year is the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, USA.; from July 15 to 24, and then will fight for his test title in the Diamond League.
Nelson Gutiérrez, his coach, told EL TIEMPO what is coming for him and his pupil and pointed out that the long relief has had problems and has not been able to consolidate.
What is the idea of concentration in Europe?
We will finish around June 22 and then we will do a micro cycle to Bogotá. Then we will go to the Bolivarian Games, which would be the first race in the competitive cycle. We will be with Alejandro Pedraza. The idea is to condition Anthony for these challenges.
Why weren’t they in the Diamond League?
We only had one invitation, the one for May 28, but we did not accept, the preparation had been delayed. After the World Athletics Championships we will go to the League. That helps us for the South American Games.
We weren’t in the League final last year, but this time we will. After Tokyo, Anthony had discomfort in an inner adductor Today, there is no pain, there is no injury, we are in a good rhythm, but behind for the season, but we will go to the competition.
Zambrano has been delayed in returning to the tests, does that hurt?
The outdoor season has started so far. The key thing is that it has been a transit period of months, which in some cases is good and in others not so much. Zambrano is an excellent athlete, I think that in a few months we will be in a good rigor for the race and meet the goals of the season.
What do you analyze about the World Cup?
The key thing is that he has established himself in the 400m race, he is among the best. He has run three times in 44 seconds, once in 43 seconds and, above all, what we want is for him to be over 44.30 seconds and from there he will progressively increase that difference.
Why the Bolivarians?
It is a guideline. At the moment we are behind, we are not at our best, more or less we are at 90 or 92 percent and it is an important competition. It has always been in the plans to be in the complete Olympic cycle and the idea is to open in Valledupar, especially when Colombia is the venue.
Does that peace of mind come from the fact that the rivals for Paris 2024 are veterans?
The Tokyo medalists are athletes who have a longer journey and we will also analyze that in the next cycle. They have set a standard in the 400m, but they still have a high level. They have a track record and compared to Zambrano, they are already athletes with a track record and that suits us.
But that doesn’t mean that the Olympics will be won easily…
Of course. The athletes have passed their best moment and enter longevity, there are 3 or 4 who are like this, that is taken into account. It is a test that is run well, but you have to see that, for example, the USA has about five athletes who have already clocked 44 seconds.
from left to right Diego Palomeque, Zambrano, Nelson Gutiérrez, John Solís and Jhon Perlaza.
What plans do you have with the brand theme?
Zambrano is an athlete in the 43-second group and has to consolidate himself there. He has to do 7 or 8 more races and with 43.50 s he is an Olympic or world medalist. You have to finish the preparation cycles and, above all, get to the last year of the Olympics in good shape.
What use is youth?
He has the athleticism to be the king of the 400 m, he has all the characteristics to be one. But the goal should be his to stay 9 or 10 years. He has twice been a U-15, U-20, then World and Olympic finalist.
Anthony Zambrano cries out for the track to be opened. For now, he is at home.
It’s not a deficiency because Anthony is a progressive athlete. When 200 m partials are done, it is in normal time, within the rhythm of competition. In that distance he is a runner of 20.20s and 20.30s to go to 21.05s or 21.03s, but his style cannot be changed, his strength is the spike.
What about the long relay?
We have disjointed. We were fourth in the world, gold in the Pan American Games, but we have to maintain discipline and work and that has not been done, it has cost to do it. It is difficult to consolidate four men in the time of 44 s. That has not been possible. Perlaza, Zambrano and the rest haven’t run 45.50 seconds, we haven’t made it.
Is the future not the best?
It has been difficult for us to keep up. We cannot say that we will not grow, but it will depend on each one, on the athletes, on their coaches. The two-month concentration for the Olympics was not good and it was not healthy. If there is support from the Federation, the COC, then you can have the relay for the cycle.
Lisandro Rengifo
Editor of THE TIME
On twitter: @LisandroAbel
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