“I trust myself, I am not afraid of anyone” or “although I am third in the world I see myself as one of the others” are two phrases of Mohamed Katir that summarize his personality very well. The Spanish athlete who was born in Morocco, lived since he was young in the Murcian town of Mula, has returned the illusion to the Spanish midfielder and hopes to hang a medal at the next European Championship in Munich.
Katir (Alcazarquivir, Morocco; 1988) is one of the new stars of Spanish athletics. His cheeky and daring running, together with the confidence he sends into every competition, means that in recent times his anxiety has sparked great enthusiasm among Spanish fans, who see him as a runner who can mark the a period.
At the last World Cup in Eugene (United States), Katir won bronze in the 1,500, being the first Spanish distance medal at a World Cup since 1999, when Reyes Estévez also won bronze. At the European Championships in Munich, she will compete in the 5,000.
Q: How did this European cope with Munich?
A: Like the World Cup, with a lot of illusion and a lot of desire. I’m looking forward to competing in a European, my first time outdoors, and seeing what it’s like.
Q: This World and European year in just three weeks. How do you digest mentally and physically?
A: I’m fine. I am training in Sierra Nevada and have a very good feeling. I think strongly. After running the World Cup I’m now focused on doing well in the European. I was in my house for three days and then I reached the top. I’m with my girlfriend now.
Q: Why don’t you double the distance to Munich?
A: Our intention was to double, run 1,500 in the World Cup and 1,500 and 5,000 in the European Championship, but apparently the federation changed the rules and said that no one can be allowed to double. My plan now is to run 5,000. I have a calm mentality, this cannot affect me, and if they don’t let me double with the 1,500 I go to the 5,000, because at that distance I can also measure.
Q: How is everyday in your life?
A: I woke up at 8:40. Breakfast and at 11 I start the first session. I finished at one o’clock, I stretched a little with my girlfriend, who was helping me, I ate, I took a nap and in the afternoon I ran again. Now I don’t do many kilometers anymore. No more than 15, although at a high intensity but not overload. In the Sierra Nevada with 19 degrees the heat is not noticeable.
Q: Last year, you went public with three national records (1,500, 3,000 and 5,000). How did you feel when you saw all eyes on your figure?
A: I don’t look at the public, I look at myself, my mind and my body. If I’m good, I give it my all and if not, I do it regularly. Now, my mind is stronger than before, I trust myself and I am not afraid of anyone. If I’m on track it’s always to try to win and give one hundred percent.
Q: And from Mula, how does it take to be a figure?
A: I take my people to the top. People recognize me but they understand that I have to practice and I can’t stop all the time to say hello or take a picture. I’ve been in Mula all my life and I’m another.
Q: One race that will always be on your record is the San Silvestre Vallecana. Can you imagine winning a prestigious event?
A: It is strong. He didn’t bet me because there are people specialized in 10,000 and 1,500. I had my doubts but it turned out really well. I want to run it again.
MOROCCAN ORIGINS
Q: Your World Cup medal was the first by a Spanish athlete in a World Cup born on the other side of the Strait.
A: I feel Spanish, I’ve been here all my life, even though I was born in Morocco. I don’t care if people say I wasn’t born here or that I don’t need to pick up the flag. I am running, not someone else. If I represent a country it is because I am proud.
Q: Has there been a lot of rejection because of its origin?
A: Every day. What I have is to keep my head centered and I should not be focused on bad vibes or those who say bad things to me. I focus on what motivates me. Just like they say my father rode a boat. It’s not true. My father came to work legally.
Q: Do you still have close family in Morocco?
A: Yes, my grandparents and some of my uncles.
Q: When you see pictures of African people risking their lives to cross the Strait, how do you feel?
A: Honestly, my relatives love it. They have no right there. Most of them are struggling and those who risk crossing the Strait of Gibraltar do not know if you will arrive alive to have a bright future. I have no relatives who have crossed but I have a friend who died trying.
Q: Are the family roots still there for you?
A: Yes, every day. When the season is over, my intention is to visit them, as I am not yet four years old. They live in Alcazarquivir, next to Larache.
ATHLETICS AND OTHER RECREATIONS
Q: What does athletics mean in your life?
A: They discovered me during a college career. There is Cristóbal Carlos Ramírez, who has a club, Mula Sport, who is the organizer. Without any competition then, when I was eleven years old, I beat the federated people and devoted themselves to running. I took a minute off them. The coach liked the way I ran, he approached me, asked me about my parents and that’s how I entered athletics. I used to play soccer and I wasn’t convinced. When I tried athletics it was amazing. There are very good people, I made very good friends and thanks to this sport I am what I am. In my first competition, a Regional Championship, I came in fourth, having only been competing for twenty-five days.
Q: As a sports fan, which one do you follow besides yourself?
A: I keep watching football, boxing or Tour de France. I like Juventus because of Andrea Pirlo (former player and former coach of the Turin team). When I was young, I wanted to be like Cristiano Ronaldo. I used to go to school with my hair done, my shirt collar up, but I’m not like that anymore.
Q: What other hobbies do you have?
A: I like reading prose about nature and writing, it’s a way to motivate myself.
Q: How do you motivate yourself before a race?
A: I want to be alone and give the coconut. Then I started to think about it and think about what I had done in the past months. I also like to warm up in quiet places. For example, in Eugene, he warmed up with Dani Arce in a cemetery, in a 500-meter lap. Next to the stadium there is a cemetery in the form of a forest, one minute away.
Q: Do you feel pressure after your medal in Eugene and set your sights again on the Spanish 1,500 at the international level?
A: I honestly don’t care. It is not normal for people to be excited because it gave them joy that the Spanish midfield is strong again. Since the time of Fermín Cacho no one runs with those rhythms and it motivates me a lot. I don’t care what people say about me. If I’m strong, I’m fine and if I’m bad it won’t work.
Q: Have you seen a medal in Munich?
A: I haven’t set very high goals for myself. When it’s in competition, we’ll see what comes out. I always have my feet on the ground and even though I am third in the world I see myself as another.
Q: I don’t know if you are aware of the controversy generated in social networks of the list of those summoned for the European
A: I don’t have Twitter but I think that if someone is worth going, the federation has to bet on him. An example; If you are among the top fifteen in the ranking, even if you didn’t do the minimum, but you have the possibility to go, the federation has to support you. The same with this European he gets very good results. The federation is worth supporting the people.
Q: Why don’t you have Twitter?
A: The only social network I won’t join is Twitter. On Instagram I upload workouts and it’s a network I like. I picked it up and saw it was different from Twitter.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
