Pedro Pablo Pichardo, a Portuguese athlete, said this Thursday that he is confident he will become European champion in the triple jump after the second 17.50m test that brought him victory.
“In the first test, I didn’t feel very good, but then, in the second, I made this sign of victory and felt more relaxed. I was confident that I would win the race with this jump,” he said after arriving at Humberto Airport, Delgado, Lisbon. The athlete is already in Portugal, having arrived from Munich, Germany, where the European Multisport Championships take place.
Adding the title of European champion to world and Olympic conquests, Pedro Pichardo once again pointed to the world record as the next big goal.
“The world record is still missing. I think we owe it to ourselves and to people. We are working on it,” he said, accompanied by his father and coach Jorge Pichardo.
The 29-year-old jumped 17.50 meters, 46 centimeters ahead of Italy’s Andrea Dallavalle, European Under-23 Champion in 2021, and France’s Jean-Marc Pontvianne, 56 centimeters, who finished second and third respectively.
“After the Olympics, the difference has almost always been the same. It’s 40 or 50 centimeters from second place. I’m not too surprised. I am very confident in my work and always try to give my best in competitions. ” Pichardo said.
After the end of the European Championship, Pichardo’s attention shifted to the Diamond League final, which will be held on the weekend of September 7 and 8 in Zurich, Switzerland.
“I’ve been competing a lot lately and I don’t have much time to recover my body and prepare well for competitions. I will now focus on the Diamond League Finals for two weeks. there,” assured Pedro Pichardo.
Although there are criticisms of the athlete who “disappoint” him, the European, World and Olympic champion continues to strive for more and more trophies.
“There are people who did not believe in my results and even doubted that I would achieve what I already have until today. I was upset and it stuck in my head. I’m going to work and prove that I can. I have already jumped 18 meters and it is easier for me to have great titles than to jump 18 meters,” shot the national record holder, who has already jumped 18.08 meters, still in the service of Cuba, maintaining his personal best.
Regarding the congratulatory messages he received from the highest Portuguese authorities, Pedro Pichardo said that “it is very nice to receive this support”, given that “A Portuguesa” is already part of it: “This is my anthem. I think I have to take a big leap and a big test to hear ‘A Portuguesa’ play.”
The second European Multisport Championship takes place in Munich until next Sunday and brings together nine sports, of which Portugal is represented in seven, namely athletics, canoeing, cycling, rhythmic gymnastics, rowing, table tennis and triathlon.
The Portuguese team has won three medals so far: two golds in the triple jump thanks to Pedro Pablo Pichardo and a scratch in track cycling thanks to cyclist Yuri Leitao and one silver in the shot put Oriola Dongmo.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
