“I’m in the form of my life,” warns Low ahead of Swansea 2014

German confident of success at August’s IPC Athletics European Championships 11 Jul 2014
Imagen
Vanessa Low long jump 2014 Athletics Grand Prix Berlin

Vanessa Low jumped 4.19m in the long jump T42 at the 2014 IPC Athletics Grand Prix event in Berlin, Germany

ⒸLuc Percival
By IPC

“I’m pretty sure that I can make an impact at Swansea and hopefully get medals."

Germany’s Vanessa Low has fired out a warning to her rivals ahead of the 2014 IPC Athletics European Championships in Swansea, Great Britain, insisting: “I’m in the form of my life.”

The World Championship bronze medallist performed well at June’s IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Berlin, Germany, jumping 4.19m in the long jump T42 and clocking 15.96 seconds in the 100m T42.

And those results have reinforced her belief that she is ready to take the next step when athletes meet in Swansea for the biggest event of the season.

Low said: “I think I’m in the form of my life. I’m running times I never imagined I could, and the world record in long jump shows I’m in good form in that event.

“I’m very satisfied with my training, and I like the way my coach is getting me to run fast. I finally get a feeling that I can get on my high when it’s important. Now it’s getting closer to Swansea, but I still feel I can run a little faster.”

The 24-year-old German athlete claimed two bronze medals in the 2013 World Championships in Lyon, France, finishing third in the 100m and the long jump.

She also took the bronze medal in the 100m T42 two years earlier, in the 2011 World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.

But now, with the European Championships fast approaching, she is determined to improve on those results.

“I’m pretty sure that I can make an impact at Swansea and hopefully get medals.

“In the 100m I think I can improve and still go a little bit faster, and in the long jump there’s still a bit more possible. I can’t wait to go to Swansea and show people what I can do.”

It is eight years since Low was hit by a train at a railway crossing. Her left leg was severed in the accident, she spent two months in a coma and doctors amputated her right leg in order to save her life.

It took two years for Low to learn to walk using prostheses, and a further 12 months until she was introduced to para-athletics.

But now, five years after starting her para-athletics career, she is established as one of the stars of the sport. August’s European Championships could be her moment to shine, in both long jump and the 100m.

“They’re both very important events for me,” she said. “We mostly work on the running, because my long jump was always decent but the problem was I needed the speed.

“I’ve always been a person that’s very excited to compete, but it’s a good excitement.

 

“The evening before the event I can’t wait to get on the stage and show what I trained for all year. I’m looking forward to Swansea and being that excited again.”

Low will be one of 600 athletes from 40 countries competing at the Swansea 2014 IPC Athletics European Championships between 18-23 August.

Media accreditation for the event is also now open via the Swansea 2014 website,