Article written by Claudia Conte Martínez, an international athlete specialized in combined events. Conte is number six in the world in Pentathlon and number nine in the world in Heptathlon in 2022.
Going back home after a major championship means answering the same questions over and over. Over time, I gradually realized that one of the most common of these was how the event felt. It's natural, I myself have spent a large part of my life on the athletics field – training, competing or as a spectator – and the experience is different in each of these situations. So I understand those who watch this sport from the stands or on a screen and who want to know what it's like to be inside a 70,000-seat stadium, surrounded by the best in the world. While it is different for everyone, today I will tell you what an event is like from the athlete’s point of view.
There are many factors which can influence performance during a major sporting event, and while you have to concentrate on those you can actually control, being familiar with the ones you can't is equally important in order to be able to adapt to the situation.One way to do this is to inspect the track you will be competing on in the days leading up to the event. The more important the championship, the more complicated it becomes to move around behind the scenes at the stadium. What’s more, knowing where the areas you can relax and eat are, the warm-up zones or the route you will have to take the next day from the call room up to the entrance to the track can help a lot.
They are very stressful moments in which everything takes place very fast, you are on edge, trying to concentrate on the most important thing: competing well.
This ritual not only consists of preparing an itinerary, however: it's also essential for making a connection with the athletics track on which the event will take place. We concentrate on its reactiveness and, depending on how hard or soft the surface is, on the basis of our personal preferences, decide if we like it or not. Even though we always try to see the positive side, in the end it's a case of convincing ourselves that everything will turn out for the best. Knowing how the track is oriented, to see how the wind will be blowing in the following day, the areas of shade or points where the coaches can give us corrections from are some of the factors to take into consideration.
The spectators are another important element; depending on the date and time there will be more or fewer spectators, so imagining the stands being full helps you visualize and feel like you are in the middle of the competition. Your body senses it, and you feel the adrenaline building with what is about to come. As far as I’m concerned, one of my favorite moments is entering the stadium for the first event. Nothing is decided, anything can happen, and it's like taking the stage. You go from a silent environment full of tension, to coming out from the tunnel and finding yourself facing the track and the stands you saw the day before, but this time packed with people cheering in happiness that the athletes are coming out to compete and enjoying themselves thanks to you. It’s the best jolt of energy to deal with the starter's pistol.
“It’s the best jolt of energy to deal with the starter's pistol.”
Once the first race starts, everything takes place much like the spectator sees it. With some moments which are more and less gratifying, and trying to keep your concentration and motivation during the downs. It helps a lot to know that you have people in the stands who are cheering you on and really want you to reach the goals you have set. In my case, the competition lasts two days, morning and afternoon, and this makes you relate much more to your rivals than in any other discipline, and creates a better atmosphere. The same happens with your team-mates, there are championships where you spend a lot of time with them, and they understand what you are going through better than anyone. You end up with a contagious desire to compete and celebrating others’ results as if they were your own.
When the show ends, you keep your bib with your name printed on it which is very significant for us, you pass the anti-doping checks, and you go out from the press room. Now it’s time to
celebrate your successes or seek consolation from the people who helped you get there. And in the meantime, maybe you will answer some new questions and once again tell people what the competition was like from the inside.