European countdown to Beijing – Viktor Röthlin (SUI) – European Athletics (EAA) – News

The environmental factors that marathon runner are likely to face in Beijing have worried many runners but Switzerland's Viktor Röthlin, Europe's fastest man over the classic distance this year, is feeling confidence he can tackle the anticipated heat and humidity.

"This is obviously not the mountain air of home but I also have the feeling that the air quality here is much better than it was during my last stay in February. I'm not suffering," said Röthlin, having arrived on Tuesday.

"It looks here almost like a normal, misty, autumn day in the Berner Seeland, near where I live. But Beijing is certainly not for depressive," joked Röthlin, casting a glance at the grey clouds overhead.

Röthlin set a national marathon record of 2:07.23 in Tokyo earlier this year but not only can he run fast in big city marathons, he has also shown himself now to be a well-prepared and motivated performer on the big championship occasion as well.

If he caused a slight surprise when he took the marathon silver medal behind Italy's reigning Olympic champion Stefano Baldini at the 2006 European Athletics Championships, the 33-year-old proved that his talent is maturing nicely with a World Championships bronze medal 12 months ago in Osaka.

"Osaka was good for me. I assessed the situation well and came home strongly in very difficult condition but it was really my win at the Tokyo Marathon in February that showed me what I was truly capable of. I don't think I now have to be scared of anyone or believe anyone is better than me in Beijing."

He competed in the Olympics in 2000 and 2004, firstly finishing 36th but then he had to drop out of the Athens race due to injury at 25km, however Röthlin remains as excited as ever by the experience.

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Celebrating World Championship silver in Osaka last
year
"I was looking forward to standing behind the Swiss flag at the opening ceremony for a long time. The moments in which the Olympic oath is spoken and Olympic flame ignited are both very emotional. It's at these times that the Olympic spirit is really felt. For athletes, these are priceless and unforgettable experiences. "

"I was able to enjoy the opening ceremony to the full as the men's marathon will not take place until the final day of the Games but now I'm back focusing on my race."

"So far, things have been going very well. The accreditation was ready for us at the airport, even before the baggage claim. In general, there has been little waiting time, not even before the security checks. Everything is working well with the latest technology and it's all extremely speedy," he added, praising the Beijing organisers, despite being taken the long way by a local taxi driver.

A supposed 25 minute trip on one occasion turning into a one-and-a-half hour ordeal. "I guess it came down to language differences," reflected Röthlin diplomatically.

Röthlin's confidence is buoyed by the fact that he has prepared for Olympics by training in hot and humid conditions, in the marathon Meccas of Kenya and Japan, at various times during the last 12 months.

"I've also trained at home recently at 2,500m altitude in the upper Engadine and last month I set a personal best for a training time trail over 35km. I've been regularly running between 210km and 225km every week for the last three months so I know I've put the work in. I know I'm in the form of my life."

Now the question is, can he get Switzerland's first ever athletics gold medal, the country having missed out on a medal of any description in the athletics events four years ago in Athens.

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On his way to a European Championship medal in
Goteborg in 2006.
One thing is certain, Röthlin will know whether he will stand on the podium before anyone else as he has a developed an eerie habit of accurate premonitions.

Prior to Gothenburg, he dreamt he would finish second. The dreams kept reoccurring the following year, and leading up to Osaka, he repeatedly finished third while running the race over in his mind while he was asleep. "Just to prove it, after I have my dream, I put my finishing position in an envelope and I open it in front of the other journalists after the race."

A gold would also allow him to finally allow him to claim the bragging rights from his hero, the famous Swiss long distance runner Markus Ryffel.

"I watched Markus Ryffel win silver in the 5,000m at the Los Angeles Olympics and, after that, I wanted to be like Markus," he added.

If he wins gold in Beijing, Röthlin will in turn probably inspire a generation of 10-year-olds, whether in Switzerland and elsewhere, to great things in the future.

European Athletics (EAA)