Maria, how come you were chosen to feature on the official poster of Paris 2003 World championships?
Actually, I had posed back-profile for a book of photos dedicated to the "Women-Athletes", designed by pole vaulter Jean Galfione. When the Paris 2003 Organising Committee happened to see the picture, they liked it very much so that they decided to use it for their official poster.
How does it feel to be associated in this way with such a big sporting event?
I was very surprised at first. Now, one can only be pleased to see his picture just about everywhere, but above all, it will be nice if it can help to talk about the Central African Republic, which is a very little known country.
You may get many solicitations from the media during the world championships. Aren't you too afraid of that ?
If I get selected by my country, I'll try not to to dissipate my efforts before and during my event. Otherwise, I'm an open person.
When did you start athletics and how did you choose the 100m hurdles ? ?
I started athletics quite late, at 19. I had tried about every sports at school before I took a break for a year. I was encouraged to take to the sport by my brother Mickael, who represented the Central African Republic in the discus for long years. Besides, I worked as a protocol officer at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. It was a great experience which motivated me to perseverate in the sport.
My brother knew François Pépin [Patricia Girard's coach at the INSEP, the French national Institute for Sports] who accepted to subject me to sprint tests and integrated me in his 100/200m group. One day, we did a technical session with hurdles. It was a disaster. "The hurdles are not made for you", he said, before changing his mind the following week. We had to run the distance between the hurdles in four strides, which I immediately succeeded.
What do you need to improve to reach a new stage in the high level ?
I'm not mature on the technical side yet. I didn't get any specific training, I learnt on the job. I've always been told that I'm fast but that I don't know how to run. For the start, there's nothing to say, I'm a good starter but I cannot follow on. I spend too much time over the hurdle. My lead leg is too close to the hurdle. My trail leg is coming back to slowly. Even if I catch up some time in the distance between the hurdles, I still lose too much time in the hurdling. I belong to a group with high-level athletes [the group of Guy Ontanon which includes amongst others Muriel Hurtis and Sylviane Félix], so that the coach can't always spend as much time as he'd like with his athletes.On the other hand you learn a lot by training with better athletes than yourselves. The girls are always in competition between themselves but they cheer you up and give you interesting advice.
Do you regularly follow the athletics news ?
A little, not in detail. I take a look to see if times are fast or not. In any cases, there's always somebody in the group to tell us that good performances have been achieved. I don't only follow what's going on in the hurdles. I do athletics because I like the sport. It's normal that I'm also interested in the other events. My brother throws the discus and my sister runs the 400m, so I also follow what's going on in their event.
While you spent most of your life in France, you chose to run for the Central African Republic. Why ?
I followed my brother's footsteps. I also wanted to put forward my country of birth because it is not enough known.
What is the situation of athletics in the Central African Republic ?
Athletics is not very developped there. There are very few facilities and no tartan track. The country has been ruined by long year of war and crisis. Only people who are really fond of this sport do athletics. The youth are more interested by basket-ball or combat sports.
The relations with the national federation are good in any case. They are very understanding and we get regularly in touch before the big events. I send them certificates of performance and then wait to know if I'm selected or not.
Did you already get the opportunity to compete in Africa ?
Yes, I was in Senegal for the African championships in 1998, in South Africa for the 1999 All-African Games and in Algeria for the 2000 African championships. I prefer generally Games [Olympics, All-African Games, Francophone Games] to single athletics events, because the teams are bigger and we get to know better our fellow athletes who are based in the Central African Republic.
What is the best memory in your career ?
The 2000 African championships in Algiers : I got the bronze medal on July 14, the day I was celebrating my birthday.
And the worse one ?
The 1999 All-African Games in Johannesbourg, because of the cold. We all came with light clothes. We didn't expect that it'd be so cold. In South Africa, actually it was winter. We really suffered from it.
What are your goals for 2003 ?
To take part to the world championships where I hope at least to make it to the second round and be on the podium of the African Games which will take place in Nigeria next October.
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