The World Championship for athletes under 20 took place in Lima, Peru from August 27 to 31. The overall conditions in Lima were far from ideal. The cold, paired with strong winds, made things tough for all athletes. But, as always in these competitions, we all had to deal with the same weather.
The heats
Coming into the heats, I felt a mix of nerves and confidence. I knew that under normal circumstances, I should pass this stage without too much trouble. My goal was to stay focused and not overthink it. I ran a clean race, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was holding back. There was a lingering fear of making a mistake, like hitting a hurdle, which kept me from pushing myself to my absolute limit.
The Semi-Final
This is where the pressure really mounted. The semi-final is always crucial—my main goal was to make it to the final, and I knew I had to finish in the top two in my race, which was packed with top-level competition. I started the race with a heightened sense of focus, knowing there was no room for error. As the race unfolded, I could hear chaos erupting around me—other athletes were falling, and it was intense. I managed to stay calm and composed, running another clean race and finishing strong. However, just like in the qualifiers, I couldn’t seem to unleash my full speed. The fear of mistakes still lingered in the back of my mind, holding me back slightly.
The Final
When the final came around, I could already feel that my legs were drained during the warm-up. The fatigue from running multiple races in such a short time was catching up with me. But, despite this, I was incredibly excited to be in the final. It’s the moment every athlete dreams of, so I gave it everything I had left. Unfortunately, the race didn’t go as I’d hoped. I stayed consistent and technically clean, but my legs were heavy, and I simply couldn’t find the strength to push forward as I normally would. The fatigue was overwhelming, and I believe that running three high-intensity races in just two days, coupled with the injuries I’ve faced this season, made it very difficult for my body to perform at its best.
Looking back, reaching the final was a huge achievement, especially given the challenging conditions and the physical strain I’ve been under this season. It wasn’t the result I had hoped for in the final, but I’m proud of my journey and the progress I’ve made. These experiences will only make me stronger for the future.
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