Vencelas, how did you feel when you became the Olympic vice-champion?
Honestly, I felt nothing. I was in my own world, extremely focused on lifting nearly 200 kilos. So right then, your brain just stops. You think of nothing. Especially since I ended on a failure trying to beat my opponent. It took three days before I realized that I had achieved something great.
Just before your second attempt at 187kg, you told your coach that you weren’t going to make it. Did you no longer believe in yourself?
It was really very heavy. He was telling me the opposite to motivate me. He probably believed in it more than I did. It was actually good that he pushed me like that. We need it.
Has your fame changed since last summer?
People recognize me a bit more on the street, that’s for sure. But I haven’t let it go to my head, I’m still the same nice guy as before. I do what I love. I work. All is well.
So, what are your next challenges?
The European Championships in April. Training started last Monday. I’m doing a training camp in Paris. In November, there are the World Championships. We’ll try to do well. I’m preparing for that.
You are the reigning European champion. Do you hope to remain so?
It’s not a goal. But any success is good in the preparation for the next Olympics. The goal is London 2012.
Isn’t that a bit far away?
Not at all. The Olympic Games are every four years, but we think about them all the time. 2012 is every day. As soon as we lift a bar, we have 2012 in mind.
