Posted: May 2, 2006

Athletics: AC Interview With Heptathlete Jessica Zelinka

Athletics Canada (AC): - You performed very well at the Worlds and finished 4th at the Commonwealth Games. How do you feel your development is coming along, do you feel you are on-track for a strong showing at the 2008 Olympic Games? Jessica Zelinka (JZ): - Both my performances at Worlds in 2005 and at the Commonwealth Games this year were steps in the right direction to set me up to be a strong contender for a medal at the 2008 Olympics. It is very exciting to see that there is still a lot of room for improvement for me, but I think the main challenge right now is to stay patient and to take each step, trusting that they will set me up in the best possible position leading into the Games.

AC: - What was the feeling of beating the Canadian heptathlon record at the Commonwealth Games? Will you hold that as a special moment in your career?

JZ: - I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to compete alongside Catherine Bond-Mills (previous record holder) when I was still a Junior, and I was also around to see her training in London every so often with my coach at the time, Vickie Croley. Being able to watch and learn from Catherine early in my career helped give me a greater perceptive of the hard work and time you really have to put into the event before you can expect to see results. I’ve always thought I could break the record, but a Canadian record doesn’t happen overnight; Catherine’s record was untouched for 12 years, so breaking it was a great accomplishment. That being said, I don’t except this record to last nearly as long as Catherine’s did…I plan to break it a few more times before I’m done!

AC: - What are your objectives for the remainder of the 2006 season?

JZ: - I have two major competitions in Europe at the beginning of the season. They’re both part of the IAAF World Combine Events Challenge series, and they will actually be back-to-back heptathlons (only a week apart), the first in Austria and the next in France. My objective is to be ranked top 8 in the World by the end of the 2006 season. The ranking is taken from three of the official IAAF meets, including the Commonwealth Games. Winning Nationals in the heptathlon is also an important goal for me for this season.

AC: - What are some of your goals away from the track?

JZ: - A goal which can be related to all aspects of my life, including track, is to continue to grow (yes, like the Milk commercial!). I want to make an effort to continually challenge myself, pushing past my comfort zones, whether it's in school, at home, in social situations, or on the track.

AC: - Do you have an idol, someone you have always looked up to? Why?

JZ: - I don't have an idol. I'm fortunate to have people in my life that have admirable qualities and whom I respect a great deal. And so there are many people I look up to and provide me with inspiration.

AC: - Are you superstitious? If yes what are some of your superstitions?

JZ: - I wouldn't consider myself superstitious...well, sometimes with the bid numbers. I usually like 13s and 9s, and 2s, and 7s are also all right and 1s... now that I think of it, no matter what number I get, I pretend it's the luckiest number out there!

AC: - Do you feel like the Heptathlon is one of the more challenging disciplines since you have to be good at so many different events?

JZ: - Heptathletes, and even more so decathletes, have been associated with being the "greatest all-round athletes" because of the demand of the event. It requires great versatility, a combination of strength, speed, power, endurance, and agility. At least from my own experience, the most challenging part of heptathlon has not been so much the physical aspect of the competition, but the mental aspect. Remaining absolutely focused throughout the two days, during and in between events, requires a lot of mental strength and energy. It takes a conscious effort to not let your mind wonder off to previous performances, especially if that leads to negative thoughts such as; "I have to throw far to make up for my hurdles"..., or "if I only jumped higher"... (Usually these thoughts ending in "I wouldn't have to run my guts out in the 800m!"). Focusing on the present moment during a two-day competition, without the "what if's", "only ifs" or "have to's" is what I believe makes heptathletes and decathletes not necessarily the best all-round athletes, but arguably some of the most mentally tough athletes out there.

AC: - How did you get started in the sport?

JZ: - The first time I got to participate in track and field was in elementary school when I was in grade 3. Our school put on an annual "track and field day", in which each grade from 3 and up participated in every event, and depending on their placement was then selected to be on the school track team. I won all the events, except I remember vividly coming second to my best friend in high jump... though I now realize that I was jumping from the wrong side of the pit, but at the time it was "cool" to jump from the right side, only the lefthanders, who already stood out due to their fascinating ability to write with their "wrong" hand, were jumping from the left side. I was then faced with the biggest decision of my life: I had to choose only one track and one field event!! I chose the 1500m and long jump. My two older sisters were already a part of the school track team, and they did different events. I wanted to do their events as well and so at home I'd practice in the backyard jumping over garbage cans before I was old enough to be "officially" allowed to jump hurdles for the school team. Soon after, at the age of 12, I joined the London Western Track and Field Club, and was free to compete in all the events I'd ever dreamt of doing! My aunt was a track and field coach at the time in South Porcupine, Ontario and she encourage me to take up the heptathlon, she has been a great supporter and mentor ever since.

AC: - Are you someone who would feel comfortable as a role model to young track and fielders?

JZ: - I am comfortable in the way I project myself as an athlete. If I can inspire younger athletes in what I do and how I go about doing them, then this will be a great accomplishment in itself. I’d like to get more involved in working directly with young athletes in this great sport, and to encourage them to try a variety of track in field events.

AC: - Is it hard sometimes to be an athlete at this level? Do you feel like you miss out on certain things in life?

JZ: - Never. I feel like I am really lucky to be able to do this currently as my career. I wouldn't want it any other way for the time being. The fact that I am able to pursue something I am passionate about, something that motivates me and challenges me to be the best I can possibly be, day in and day out, is more than I could ever ask for. Other opportunities in life that I may be putting on hold right now, to focus on my goals in track in field, are not going to vanish by the time I retire, and even so, some new opportunities may arise in the mean time.

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