Tuka ahead of European Championships: Competition is fierce this year, I'm competing more at the coach's urging

(Patria) - Amel Tuka, after breaking the national and Balkan records a few days ago in Madrid, held an online press conference today where he addressed the public.

The meeting in Madrid and the 800-meter race served as a proper prelude to the European Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland, which will be held from March 5th to 7th.

“First of all, I want to congratulate all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 1st – Independence Day. As you know, I have had several indoor races recently. After the first race in France, I was a bit sad about the time of 1:48, although it is solid for indoors. I am used to better results. I didn't feel particularly good. However, I quickly improved my time in Toruń, and then in Madrid, as I announced, I broke the Balkan record. Indoor races are difficult for me because I am not a fan of indoors. I haven't been to preparation camps, as I used to be in South Africa, because the situation with the coronavirus is difficult and we didn't want to risk it. So I am satisfied with the indoor result,” Tuka said at the beginning of the conference.

He also revealed that he does not have any special expectations at the European Championships, but that the goal is to achieve the best possible result.

“In Scotland two years ago, I also had a time of 1:46, but I was only fourth. Many things have to align besides a good race. The competition is fierce this season, I don't know what this is. On the other hand, there are athletes who do not want to compete indoors at all. I am competing more at the urging of my coach because he wants me to compete since there is a long period until summer. At the last European Championships, I was sixth, and I achieved my goal of reaching the final. I have similar expectations now. Running under 1:45 indoors would be phenomenal. That would be a result among the top ten indoor results in the world, and fifth in Europe,” Tuka stated.

The main event for Amel in 2021 will be the Olympic Games in Tokyo, but there is still no plan or program for preparations.

“We mentioned that in April we might go to Kenya where there are camps at high altitudes. South Africa is out due to the coronavirus situation. There are some places in Italy, specifically in Sicily, but a volcano erupted there near the camp, so that is also risky. The coach needs to get vaccinated soon. In general, we haven't decided anything concrete yet, so we will sit down and make a plan after the European Championships are over. I don't stress too much about it. In 2019, I trained here too, and I had an excellent season. It was the same in 2015 when I achieved my best time. It is more necessary before the Olympic Games to go somewhere to the mountains, mainly because of the heat, in order to prepare as well as possible. I know what I need to work on, and I will dedicate myself to it,” Tuka concluded, reports scsport.