An interview with Timo Bracht

Kona, Hawaii, October 3: European Ironman champion Timo Bracht from Germany answers a few questions prior to the upcoming 2007 Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona.

ST: Timo, do you feel you are as prepared for Kona as you would like to be?

Timo: Yes, absolutely. I am as fit as never before and also very well prepared. I am very pumped about the race.

ST: Have you done anything different than in previous years?

Timo: After a big Ironman race in the summer I always have about 3 months of special preparation for Hawaii, and that has stayed the same. This year though I specifically went back to Lanzarote for 2 weeks to train hard under very warm and windy conditions.

ST: After winning the European Ironman Championships in Frankfurt earlier this summer, do you think there is more pressure on you to follow up that performance in Kona?

Timo: No, I have bib number 11. If I scratched off the last digit of my bib, then the pressure would be much larger, but it is ok as is. Actually the victory in Frankfurt took pressure off me and I feel somewhat relieved at the start in Kona, but I am hungry and very motivated (like never before) for the race.

ST: What do you think your race at Ironman Germany in Frankfurt said about your fitness?

Timo: I utilized 7 months to prepare myself specifically for that race. I swam very well, felt I had a very good bike ride and on the run I showed with my 2:47 what I have got in me. The final time of 8:09 actually was a course record. The conditions were very good. But to get back to your question, I guess I had good fitness.

ST: Do you feel it is an advantage for you that the focus of the media appears to be on Faris and Normann?

Timo: No, although ironman is a tactical race, in the end it only matters who will perform best on day X.
I won’t be faster or slower because of that, but I will be absolutely fit on October 13, and I believe Faris and Normann will be too.

ST: Who do you think are your toughest competitors this year in Kona?

Timo: I am actually not worried about it this year. I am focusing only on my own performance.

ST: Are there any possibly dark horses at the race no one is thinking about?

Timo: Pay attention to bib number 11 …

ST: What are your thoughts on the new 10m drafting distance?

Timo: I think 10m is great, now if we had blood doping controls and bigger prize money, it would be perfect.

ST: Should athletes previously found positive for doping be allowed to return to Kona?

Timo: If someone has done their time I believe they should have a second chance. The question should be, is 2 years enough? I say no. Should it be proven that someone has doped they should be banned for 4 years.

ST: Would you actually like to see a different venue for the Ironman World Championships, or is Kona the place for it?

Timo: I think Kona is the ideal place for the Ironman World Championships. But maybe the WTC could organise something else alongside it, as the sport surely needs more publicity.

ST: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Timo: I guess just like today I’ll be sitting in October of that year on the balcony of a condo or a hotel at the Kona Coast and will respond on my laptop to questions from nice journalists.

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