Interview with Robert Korzeniowski

In the swan song year of the greatest race walking career of all time, Poland's Robert Korzeniowski was in his usual ebullient form after a guest appearance at the Irish Indoor Championship at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast this month. This race walker, despite being lapped 5 times over 5000m by the three-time Olympic champion and World Record, felt privileged to chat afterwards with Robert about athletic success and his plans for yet again retaining the Olympic 50 km title. An important part of Robert[base ']s preparations is having fun along the way, and his training and racing programme includes visits to friends from as far apart as Yekaterinburg, Russia to West Waterford, Ireland (English being one of five languages he speaks almost perfectly). It may seem hard to believe that a race walker be one of the biggest sports stars in his country, even as a three time gold medal winner. It is no surprise though on meeting this live wire who markets himself through his own sports management operation, is sponsored by a coffee company, owns a sports clothing brand and promotes sporting and fitness events. His marketability and charm has prompted suggestions of a future political career, which, as a born politician, he naturally downplays. Amongst race walkers however, his aura of invincibility has only been achieved only after several setbacks. In this interview, Robert reveals how his winning attitude has been achieved through humility, self awareness and the thoroughness of his preparations...

The statutory question for every race walker... how did you get into the event?

Ah right back to the beginning...I did judo but during the state of emergency in Poland in 1981/82 the police weren't happy with boys learning how to fight. The secret police were in charge and they shut down the school gym. I wanted to keep fit so at 14 I joined the track and field team. For two months I tried lots of events then the coach suggested testing for the walks - he had a group of about 15 and race walking had a tradition in Eastern Poland. I did some running and cross-country as well for a while and was a good, regular club athlete but did little training. In January 1984 I took part in the area championship in which I came third, which qualified me for the Polish championships. I wasn't convinced though that I'd be any good and indeed it was a big disaster! It was 35C, I was wearing shoes that were too big for my feet and I remember my time - 64:00 for 10000m - my worst ever. I was even lapped by the second last walker! With more focus the next year I won to the surprise of everyone so in 1984 I decided to become a walker. I didn't become a professional though until 1990 after I came fourth in the European Championships. Some athletes when they first get to that level get overawed but I understood that everybody can be beaten - the medallists were Pavol Blazek, Daniel Plaza and Thierry Toutain but I beat Valentin Massana, Mikhail Schennikov and José Marin so I thought - I can play this game!

What was it that brought you to that level of competitiveness?

It was very important to me in the beginning to approach the idols of the event - I spoke with Maurizio Damilano, Andrey Perlov and others, observed their training and became their friends.

At the beginning of your championship career, you suffered a few DQs and DNFs - what did you learn from those experiences?

I had a big beginning but I was naive - I had no knowledge and was arrogant. I beat my competitors in meetings but didn't realise the championships are 'D Day'. Also, I was often over-trained and injured. These days I know I can expect the right result after proper training but back then it was haphazard. My 1992 disqualification while in second place in the Olympics was surprise - I was surprised by both good and bad results. These days I realise the most important thing for an athlete to learn is to be friends with yourself. You must be able to listen to yourself honestly after a disappointment and take on board criticism. My roommate in Barcelona was 800m runner Piotr Piekarski who told me I was not mature enough to win. He told me to be patient and work hard - but at 22 I thought I could conquer the world! A very important thing for me was moving from Poland to France. I also read up on the theories of training and learned to be patient.

You also worked hard on your technique after that DQ?

My theory about technique is to not think about the movement according to the rules but to visualise yourself moving faster, more rhythmically and more economically as you walk. Proper technique must become natural. It must become part of the matrix of your brain. I used to think too much. This is perhaps a bit philosophical but you can't think about the present because soon as you do its the past, it's gone...

So you mean a bit like golfer putting you mustn't think, just relax and hit it in the hole?

Yes, it's got to be like breathing. You've just got to think, in this case, relax and get to the finish line first.

I worked on technique with my coach but from 1993/4 I became a critic of myself. I'm strict with video analysis all through the year. You can't afford to let a bad habit emerge - 2000 km of training with one would destroy technique. Since digital video cameras arrived in the early 1990s that helped a lot - today my physio videod me. My technique is not perfect but I try to get close. OK technique is not enough, you have to do race walking the right way and from about 1992/93, I was satisfied with my technique.

You're well known for your scientific preparation, how important is that to you?

It's important for me to plan in detail every month of every year. I know I need a plan to be comfortable with myself. I use my experience in knowing what works for me, and following it through one step at a time.

I impressed a Polish waitress in Wimbledon after last summer[base ']s World Championships. 'You know Robert Korzeniowski![base '] she said. [OE]He makes me feel so proud for my country[base ']. After the race today you spent a lot of time signing autographs, T-shirts and fellow competitors[base '] race numbers. How do you feel about all the attention you get?

I like having people around me and it makes me proud to see such emotion. Even in Belfast yesterday a Polish boy came up to me - he was visiting his uncle and he wanted his picture taken with me. I'm really patient - so long as it's well organised! If it didn't fit into my schedule though it would kill me.

In the 1997 World Championship, at Athens, you won the 50 km by just 13s from Jesús García of Spain - how do you plan to cope with the same heat and smog in August?

In that race it was 29C at 7:30am at the start and it rose to 44C - and that was nothing special. I know for sure it would be a bad choice for me to do the 20 km and the 50 km! I will drink a lot and pour a lot of water over me in the race. It will be better than Seville in 1999 or Atlanta in 1996 though as it will be dry heat. I'm not afraid - I'm quite dark skinned and resist hot weather well and I've done it so many times now. I expect the race to be very fast even so - maybe 3:42 to 3:42:30 to win. It will require more courage and for me to be more competitive than in 1997.

Who do you expect to challengers you?

German Skuriygin, Andreas Erm and Nathan Deakes. You never know, perhaps Jesus Garcia again too.

How do you plan to prepare for the big day?

I'll have two separate months at altitude where I'll do my very important sessions; at Mexico and Font Romeau in France. In March I'll do the Tijuana Grand Prix 20 km before a month at 1800m altitude in the mountains north of Mexico City. Then in May I'll do the 20 km at the Naumburg IAAF World Cup of Race Walking and the Polish Championships. Then pre-competition I'll increase my speed over 5 km before the final altitude training in France

Can you reveal the philosophy behind your training methods?

I do less mileage than many walkers and no more than 35 km recovery walks usually. I listen to my body. I don[base ']t do very much on the track - just some intervals and fartleks. I mainly use some well measured road courses near Tourcoing. I keep the specifics of my training secret but last Thursday I did a 12 x 1000m track session at 3:58/km pace - I don't need to go any faster and that's tough training. I could go down to 3:40 - 3:45 pace but I[base ']d do 300/400m sprints for speed training.

What are your plans for after the Olympics?

I have a year of farewells around Poland planned, plus in March I'll be launching the Spring collection of my 'Walker' brand of sports clothing. The details of my other plans are secret but it will involve promoting walking and athletics. I won't pretend to be a race walker but I'll keep training [OE]til the end of my life!

Do you have any ideas for how British Race Walking can get back to our previous successes?

You do have a great history. You must get walking in more athletic clubs and in track and field leagues. In France they have walks in the national and regional leagues which brings in a lot of good athletes and more coaches involved. Promoting walking is a task for all of us - I take part in health walking seminars. It also helps to get associated with mass participation walks - so long as there's an elite element. You must also help promote an exchange of knowledge and learn from expertise abroad - while keeping up with what's new. Methodologies change and are improved - in ten years time current methods will be outdated so you mustn't exclude new research. Thinking about it, I've never seen a British walker at any training camp. The Irish walkers joined me in South Africa a few years ago, and they're doing very well. You know each time I've won a gold medal I've chucked it my bag and immediately start planning the next - but if you like what you do you just do it. Every year since Sydney has been a bonus and I feel no pressure so win a medal in Athens.

Not that you[base ']ll need it - good luck.

Footnote 1:

It is hard to envisage how Robert can be beaten in his final championship race. As in previous years, leading up to Athens he will look to psychologically dominate his opponents by demonstrating over 20 km that he has the speed that that no competitor can hope match over the classic, super endurance distance of 50 km. Indeed Robert will be leaving nothing to chance in defending his title. Barring injury or a new force emerging, perhaps only Britain[base ']s Peter Marlow, who is to be the chief judge, could prevent a unique third consecutive Olympic title - but even as early as his lap of honour in the stadium after winning at the Paris World Championships last August, as what could be considered a psychological marker in case he might dare consider intervening, Robert took the precaution of shaking hands with the same official, who sheepishly had to accept!

Footnote 2:

Information Weight 60kg Height 1.68 Date of birth 30 07 1968 Place of birth Lubaczów (POL) Clubs US Tourcoing, France. Elite Cafe Wawel  Kraków Profession PE teacher At Sydney in 2000 Robert Korzenioski became the only man to retain an Olympic walk title at 50km and only man to win the Olympic 20km and 50km double. Championship Record Olympic Games 1992 20km - DNF 50km - DQ 1996 20km - 8 50km - 1 2000 20km - 1 50km - 1 World Championships 1991 20km - 10 50km - DNF 1993 50km - DQ 1995 50km - 3 1997 50km - 1 1999 50km - DQ 2001 50km - 1 2003 50km - 1 European Championships 1990 20km - 4 1994 20km - DQ 50km - 5 1998 50km - 1 2002 50km - 1 World Cup of Race Walking 1989 20km - 40 1991 20km - 7 1993 20km - 4 1995 20km - 9 1999 20km - 4 European Cup of Race Walking 1996 20km - 1 1998 20km - 2 2000 20km - 1 World University Games 1991 20km - 1 1993 20km - 1 European Junior 1987 10km - DQ World Indoor 1993 5000m - 2 Polish Champion at 20km 1990-2003 Tim Watt 7.3.04

© Copyright 2005 Tim Watt. Last update: 28/9/05; 02:34:41.