Songore shines at World Champs

Michael Songore recently in Donetsk, Ukraine
The amount of intensity and tension between athletics, all from the different countries, over the world was a phenomenal feeling as I entered the Olimpiyskiy Stadium. It was like a blazing sun. Everything was already in place, only the starter gun to mark the pathway of a champion. BANG!

Yes, it was time for dreams to become reality.
One of the living Olympic legends to grace the event was famous former pole vault champion from Ukraine and current IAAF Vice President Sergey Bubka.

As an Olympic medallist, who is bidding to be the next president of International Olympic Committee he becomes one of the reasons many youth pole vaulters want to put their 100 percent effort.

Well, such is an example of how success at youth levels can turn you into a source of inspiration in today’s world. Becoming a champion is a process and this was the stepping stone for me.

Not only our core business was to run, but we had a chance to exchange notes with some top sprinters in the world. My heats were made more exciting with the presence of Michael O’Hara from Jamaica and believe you me, the dude can run.

He is the fastest youth in the world in 200m at the moment.
Not only did it provide me with a good experience rubbing shoulders with the best, it gave me an idea of what it’s like to be in the intense situations of athletics.

We became good friends thereafter and I noted that some things were common between us.
I was glad to notice that we shared the same first name and date of birth such as year and month (August).

It became an honour getting to meet and know the life of the world’s fastest people on the track in my age group.
I had an opportunity to compare their athletics lifestyles to mine and one thing I learnt is, I have to build up on power in my legs and arms.

One might not really understand the small or big differences that I noticed even from the very beginning of the competitions.
I had no idea of what was ahead of me, my little experience of such big competitions forced me to even participate in the medley Relay Heats before my big 200m semi-finals.

This was not a wise idea.
It is the mindset of our local inter-schools or inter-house competitions where you can do up to five events, at world champs its foul.
Little had I observed that other top sprinters were not running the Medley Heats as they were saving up energy.

From this I learnt that to be a champion one has to think, act and perform like a champion.
At the starting line, it isn’t the same feeling you get for inter-schools competition or Southern Regional Championships.

It is far more beyond that, there is much more pressure and anxiety. The beauty of that is to overcome.
Back home now, and the memories don’t cease to come back. Friendliness of the Ukranian people is something I had not seen ever. We had a chance to watch the biggest soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk.

The support for the team was fantastic. The whole atmosphere was too good to put in words.
Besides the little goodies from Ukraine, I also brought back the experience which I will share with fellow youth athletes and as well use in future championships.

I am glad to say I was ranked in the top 15 in both races after the semi finals.