Since his arrival yesterday, July 4th in Belgrade and the Universiade Village, Portuguese Olympic Triple Jump Champion Nelson Évora made a few heads turn. Today, FADU, the Portuguese National University Sport Federation hosted a press conference in the MPC. It turned out to be a rather ‘cool talk with the press’ instead as the Portuguese Champ is a very likeable guy who’s not afraid of a little joke with the journalists. Seizing the opportunity in his calendar to take part in the Universiade still being a student he is ready to compete her in Belgrade. His goal is to sharpen his personal best. His ultimate goal: to break the world record. But he has time and he is a realist. ‘First I better my personal record, than I’ll try to reach the 18m and then who knows maybe the world record. It has to be done step by step’, a down-to-earth Nelson told the big press crowd at the Main Press Center of the Universiade.
FISU Media was present as well and asked the student-athlete a couple of questions.
FM: Everyone sees you as a university champion, but you’re also a student. It must be a tough combination, performing on the highest level in your sport and at the same time studying at university.
NE: ‘Of course, luckily now in Portugal we have a system were we can combine both. For my parents and for me that is a big reassurance.
FM: Do you consider yourself as a role model for other student-athletes in Portugal?
NE: Yes, I think so. I’m proof that it is possible to combine both studies and sport and that if you work hard, things can happen. I’m glad I can motivate others to combine study and sport.’
FM: What changed for you as a student after becoming an Olympic Champion?
NE: ‘I have less time to study, but more opportunity to study.’
FM: What impact did it have on your friends, your fellow students, your professors at the University?
NE: ‘Yes, that changed a lot. Before when I went to university nobody knew me, but after the gold medal in Beijing I became famous and people started looking and staring at me whenever I entered an aula at the University. But I got used to it now and it doesn’t bother me anymore.’
FM: Being an Olympic medal winner or champion doesn’t necessary mean you always end up on the Universiade medal podium. Yesterday for instance, Paola Espinosa, a Mexican diver who won silver in Beijing last year, did not make it to the finals of the 1m high spring-board. So isn’t there a lot of pressure on your shoulders to perform?
NE: ‘Yes, but I deal with it. In the Olympics there was tremendous pressure so I can handle it. I listen to music on my i-pod, play cards, talk to my friends and family, just doing things any person of my age does.’
FM to Duarte Lopes, Head of the Portuguese delegation: The fact that Nelson is in the Portuguese delegation, must give some extra vibes to the delegation.
Duarte Lopes: ‘Nelson is a good student and a good athlete, and he’s doing a great job bringing a lot of positive energy in our delegation. He also had a positive influence on other good athletes willing to participate in the Games. But the important message he sends out to everybody is that he is an outstanding athlete but a university student at the same time.’
Nelson Évora will compete on the July 7th when the athletics competitions start.
Nelson Évora
Christian Pierre, FISU Media Rep. interviewing the Olympic Champion
Nelson Évora
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