Cuban Dayron Robles is overwhelmed with his own performances this season
By Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Surprise World Indoor 60m hurdles silver medallist, Cuban Dayron Robles is overwhelmed with his own performances this season, a year in which he graduated from a junior level and became a world-recognised hurdler at the senior level.
The 19-year-old, who equalled the Cuban national record of 13.00 seconds at the IAAF World Athletic Finals (WAF) in Stuttgart, Germany, last weekend, is also relishing his position as the World number one ranked hurdler, following the latest release of the IAAF World Rankings.
“I’m overwhelmed by my silver medal in Moscow, and also being on top of the world rankings, so this is really a big surprise for me,” Robles said at the Press Conference held on Friday at the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens, on the eve of the 10th World Cup in Athletics.
Robles will compete for the Americas team against a star-studded field, which also includes new world record and Olympic champion, Liu Xiang of China, and he’s happy with the chance of competing for his region in a World Cup.
“We don’t have the chance to compete in the World Cup every year. Everyone comes with the goal to compete for their continent or team,” the Cuban new sensation said on Friday.
“We spend the entire season together with our compatriots from Brazil, and Panama, and now we get to compete as a team. And finally, my teammate Anier Garcia won the World Cup in 2002 so I want to try and match that result.”
Robles said his primary goal for his career is become an Olympic champion and the World record, but stated that his main challenger, Xaing, the current record holder is a great athlete and it will take a lot to beat him.
“I’d like to become the Olympic champion and the World record holder but actually, Xiang is a great athlete. I don’t know how low he can get the world record, and how much room he’ll give to me to replace his outstanding career,” he added.
Apart from Xiang, Robles will have the likes of Stanislavs Olijars of Latvia and American Ryan Wilson to battle with for the crown and it is expected to be another fast race as the season comes to close.
Source: CaribbenNet News
