Katir: “This is the beginning, I hope for another medal at the European Championships”

Mario García, fourth: “The Spanish 1,500 is very sweet, I want to inspire the next generation of athletes”

MADRID, July 20 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Spanish athlete Mohamed Katir declared himself “very happy” to win the bronze medal in the 1,500 meters at the World Championships that will be held in Eugene (USA), declaring that “this is just the beginning” because he aspires to the next one European Championships in August in Munich (Germany) to get back on the podium.

“I’m doing very well, very happy to get a medal and more at a World Cup. I’m very proud and I hope I brought joy to my country, my people and my family. It’s just the beginning, now is the time European Championship.” and I hope to bring joy to Spain again and get another medal,” he commented in statements to the federation’s press service (RFEA).

For his part, Mario García, fourth with the third best Spanish record in history (3:30.20), was also amazed by the mark achieved in Eugene. “I don’t believe it. It’s like Nerja but at a higher level. It shows that Spain are in a very sweet moment in the 1,500 and I hope it inspires all these kids from lower categories. Now I want the next ones inspire generation of Spanish athletes,” he said.

The Spanish 1500m champion said that “I knew I could fight for the medals” but that the 3:30 mark was “amazing”. “I knew the race would be fast, but I didn’t know if I would be ready for 3:30. The training was very good, but this is an exceptional level. Being in 3:30 and being one of the best Europeans in history shows that all the work of the last few years has paid off. If you work and believe in your coach, you can achieve a lot,” he said.

Regarding the next European Championship, García commented that “it will be like a World Cup” and that he will try to be “selected” to play it in Germany next month.