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Decathlete Dean Macey in the zone | |
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Dean gets fully pumped up for competition
Dean Macey is going for Olympic gold in Athens in the decathlon. Does he get nervous?
I probably get more nervous than anybody because I can't imagine how anyone can get more nervous than me. Even having competed at the Sydney Olympics and at two World Championships. But I just say to myself 'this is what I do for a living, this is why I am here, I am good at this, let's do it'. You just have to think that the next guy is as nervous as you and you can beat him. Relaxing's the game I get really nervous up until the day before, but on the first day of competition I wake up and I mean business. You have to harness your energy but you can't let it out too early as you can burn out.
The 100m is the opening event and I prepare by listening to some really aggressive music on my walkman and I psych myself up. It's important to concentrate on what you are doing and not on anybody else. Once the gun goes you don't hear or see anybody, until the last 20m. I want to prove to everyone I am the best but I worry about letting myself down. You've got to be selfish. People cheer for me but I'm doing it for myself.
Things don't always go to plan, but you must never become disheartened. I remember falling in the hurdles at the 1999 World under-23 championships in Gothenburg. I know I tried too hard, and since then I've just let things come naturally in the last three championships.
Because the decathlon is spread over two days you need time to relax. It's not all work, work, work. It is physically impossible to stay psyched up and focused for 48 hours. After finishing an event you have to go and have a laugh with the other competitors and forget about it. And when you get called up about 30 minutes before the next event, you start focusing again. Once you're out there it's all in your hands, no matter who is up in the crowd - they can't help you. There's only one person who can make a difference and that's you.
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