16 Jul. 2016 – The 200m women’s race got the attention of all the spectators during the Lebanese Individual Championship especially for the challenge expected between Gretta Taslakian who’s coming back to competition after pregnancy and Aziza Sbeity!
The two champions literally did the show and it was a beautiful race to watch! Aziza fought really hard in this race, in the first 150m they were both running next to each others, but Gretta’s experience over this distance and especially that she’s preparing for the 400 meters gave her a strong lead in the last 50m of the race clocking an amazing 24.24!
Gretta won her first 200m this season and her first challenge against Aziza who ran a personal best of 24.54! It is a true example of how such challenges push you to improve your times! It was also a lesson of sportsmanship between the two women!
Check out what was their reaction on Instagram:
In a previous interview earlier this year with Gretta Taslakian, she announced that she is back for only two years to prepare and try to win a gold medal in Asia in the 400m. When asked about the 200 meters, Gretta said:
“I ran the 200 yesterday when I wasn’t at all preparing for it, but I needed to gain back my confidence and strength by running next to someone competitive like Aziza, so next year as officially is gonna be my last I will be nationally competing in the 200 as part of my training for the 400m in Asia.”
When asked about the lack of challenge in the 400 meters knowing that there is currently no one running sub 60 seconds on this distance and if she considers competing abroad, she said:
“Honestly I don’t think that way, it is evident that there is no challenge at all, but all my life I have been running with no competition, yet when I had the Asian or Arab championship I was capable of doing good results, so I don’t think doing competitions abroad before the official one will really help, that is my philosophy. For others this won’t work, I am someone who can put myself under pressure when I should so maybe that is why I am always ready for big competitions.”
On the other hand, Aziza was really glad about Gretta’s comback:
“This year has been a tough one because of the fact that Lebanon is lacking female competitors. It has been very difficult for me to run an optimal 100m race and even more tough to run the 200m race which I hate.
Yesterday was one of the best races I’ve ever had in a very long time. I’m so happy that Gretta is finally back on track and in such amazing form. Her presence definitely gave me a push and it was the reason I ran a PB on the 200m. I can’t wait for the rest of the season’s races and I am looking forward for next season!”
It is really nice to see how athletes need each others in order to improve and give the best of them while respecting each others! It is a true lesson for the younger generation to see how compete under the most important value of Olympism: Respect.
Photo Credits: Akl Yazbeck/Sportscode Images
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