The IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham were a landmark championships for stalwart Polish middle distance runners Adam Kszczot and Marcin Lewandowski whose attention will now turn to the upcoming Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships.
Five-time European champion Kszczot claimed an elusive global title in the 800m on the third day of the programme and Lewandowski landed the first global medal of any description at the age of 30 in the 1500m on the final day of the programme.
Kszczot and Lewandowski are long time teammates and they were also roommates in Birmingham. “Maybe it’s funny but I believe he [Kszczot] gives me positive energy and it makes me really happy and it was my goal - go back home with the same medal. It wasn’t gold but a silver medal is really nice for me and I’m really happy,” said Lewandowski, who was a keen observer of the 800m final.
“I was waiting for [Kszczot] because I wanted to touch the gold medal so I was lying down in my bed but I didn’t go to sleep so I could wait for him. He came to the room at 11pm so it was quite late but I said ‘no, I have to wait for him and touch the medal.’”
A slightly later than planned night prior to the final didn’t unduly affect his preparations, nor did qualifying for the 1500m final only as a non-automatic qualifier temper his expectations.
“You know, I’m a really experienced guy so I didn’t care about that. I was fourth [in the heat in 3:40.78] but I know myself and I know how World Championships work; there are no rules. I felt really good so I was thinking about a medal all the time so finally I did it but it was nothing special. I felt really great before so that was my goal: to come back to Poland with a medal,” he said.
Lewandowski and Kszczot have raced each other season after season over 800m and while Kszczot plans to stay with the two laps through until the Tokyo Olympics, Lewandowski has already made the transition up to the 1500m, winning the European indoor title before finishing seventh at the IAAF World Championships in London last summer. Many observers believe this could prove to be his best event.
“That was my future from the beginning to be honest,” said Lewandowski. “When I was 20, people always told me that I was supposed to go for the 1500m but I was feeling really good in the 800m. I was really enjoying it but I decided to stay there; it just was a matter of time before I moved to the 1500m and I guess I believe it was the right moment. I still want to be in the 800m and be one of the best in the 800m as well.
“Every day and every week and every month I focus more on the 1500m but as I said, the speed from the 800m is my weapon for the 1500m so I don’t want to forget about that.”
Not that Lewandowski considers himself a one-trick pony. The pace of the final in Birmingham played into his hands (he has a PB in the 800m of 1:43.72) but Lewandowski would have been prepared if someone took it out fast from the gun. “The goal is to be ready for both. I’m ready for a slow race and I was ready for a 3:35 race, even. That’s the goal and until this moment, everything is going fine for every option,” he said.
Lewandowski is keeping his options open for the European Championships in Berlin. He won the 800m title in Barcelona eight years ago but he is erring towards the longer distance in the German capital.
“Probably 1500m but who knows? It could be the 800m, the 1500m or it could be both. I’m not sure, I just want to focus on training well and then we shall see,” he said.
Lewandowski is one of the veterans of the Polish team which has grown in stature in recent seasons. Poland topped the medal at the 2016 European Championships and 2017 European Indoor Championships before coming away with seven medals at the IAAF World Championships in London last August.
“In recent years, the Polish team is really strong. We won the general classification at the European Championships, and we were fourth on the placing table at the World Championships which is also a big success and here as well. It’s something which gives us more positive energy; young athletes watch us and stay with us and motivate them,” said Lewandowski, expanding on the social responsibility which comes attached to being a world class sportsperson.
“For sure, Polish track and field needs heroes. The kids can watch us and want to be like us; that’s very important right now because it’s not only a problem in Poland but around the world right now. Kids prefer to stay at home and play Playstation than go to the forest or run or play football and so on.
“In every country we need more heroes and I guess - and I believe that more success for track and field in Poland, the better.”
More information on the 2018 European Championships:
- The Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships will be part of the first multi-sport European Championships along with co-hosts Glasgow.
- It will be a must-watch, must-attend experience that elevates the status of European Champions, uniting existing European Championships to celebrate the highest honour in European sport and celebrating the defining moments that create Champions.
- It is the continent’s ultimate multi-sport event, an 11-day celebration of European sport staged every four years.
- Seven of Europe’s leading sports (athletics, aquatics, rowing, golf, cycling, gymnastics, triathlon) will be brought together for the first edition.
- The European Athletics Championships in Berlin will be staged 7-12 August. The six other sports will be staged in Glasgow through 2-12 August.
- 4500 athletes and 52 nations will compete across the seven sports.
- Potential TV audience of over one billion with millions more across multiple digital platforms.
- Over half a million spectators expected.