‘Cluttering’ Nadine Visser suddenly has a lot of competition at the European Championship: “Level is very high”

Less than three weeks ago, Visser was still at the World Athletics Championships in the United States. Over there the tournament ended disappointing already in the semifinals. “The form was not as hoped,” she said disappointed afterwards. The European Athletics Championships in Munich are now approaching and she has been able to prepare very briefly. “Fortunately, I won’t be taking action until Sunday, because that gives me some extra time,” Visser told NH Sport.

Personal advantage

The athletics tournament in the Olympiastadion started on Monday, but for Visser the tournament doesn’t start until Sunday. This makes her one of the last athletes to take action. “That is a personal advantage for me. After the World Cup I have been messing around physically. My hamstring continues to play up again. After the World Cup it took quite a long time that I was able to get over the hurdles again,” says Visser, who only took one and a half hours. week on the hurdles.

In minimal preparation time, Visser was able to refine little. There was no longer any possibility to run another race and so the question is how she will perform in Munich. “I now try to get the most out of every training session and to rest well. Unfortunately, there was not enough time for an entire training block.”

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Suddenly a lot of competition

At almost all major tournaments, Visser reached the finals and in many cases she was the fastest European hurdler. In 2019 and 2021 Visser became European champion indoor on the hurdles, but she has never managed to get the title outdoors. In 2020 in Paris it was the chance, but that tournament was canceled because of corona. “I was really disappointed with that. Now there is another European Championship this year and then there are suddenly a lot of European ladies who are running. So the level is very high.”

With 12.66 seconds as the fastest season time (personal record 12.51), Visser has been the fourth fastest European in the 100 meter hurdles this season. Because of the strong competition, she normally flattens herself for the overall victory, but a medal is the goal. “I hope to run faster than that time and then go for the podium. In recent years I had said one hundred percent that I would go for gold, but that is really different this year.”

Visser is still at home for the first few days of the European Athletics Championships, but by watching the live streams, she is getting into the tournament mood. She will fly that way on Wednesday. “Then it’s a good session and rest and watch the livestream and series. I look forward to the all-around women the most. Anouk Vetter is a good friend of mine so I’m going to sit down for that.”

The European Athletics Championships in Munich will last until Sunday 21 August. Nadine Visser will compete in the 100 meter hurdles on the last day in the semi-finals and possibly in the final.