08/17/2008 - 10:51
Before the Final
by Paul Kingston

In this exclusive interview from Beijing, Angelo talks about the possibility of winning gold in the 400m hurdles, making his return to track, and some ambitious goals for the future.

What or who were some of your biggest influences growing up?

Sports were definitely a big influence in my life.. Every since I can remember I wanted to play sports. My mom was also a big influence in my life. She has always been involved my life. She taught about the importance of education and hard work.

Was there a single event that drove you to track or was it just something you tried and then loved?

Football was my first love, but the '84 Olympics was first track event that i remember. Watching the Olympic Games every four years got me interested in track.

How did your running in college and being so successful prepare you for competing at the international level?

It taught me how to prepare for big competitions. Because I was so good, I was always competing against top competition. I made the Junior world team so i was going up against top athlete's in the world as a teenager.

Describe what it felt like to have the gold medals you won placed around your neck, and hear your national anthem played as your countryʼs flag was raised higher than the others.

It was a unbelievable experience.I felt like I was on top of the world. To set a goal and achieve it was definitely a great feeling.

Youʼve had to deal with injuries and personal problems since the 2004 games. What has kept you going and helped you get back to the Olympics?

My family and friends were very supportive of me. They always was encouraging me to get back out on the track and reclaim what's mine. In the back of my mind i knew i still had it because i was still running decent injured. I told myself if i could ever heal completely the sky would be the limit.

Do you feel like a win would validate you and your career, or do you think just getting back to this point is the biggest accomplishment?

Getting back in the sport is definitely big accomplishment but to win a gold medal in this Olympics would definitely validate my career.

What do you think the road youʼve traveled, and your ability to get back to such an elite status says about you?

It says that I'm a tough individual and have a strong belief in my faith. Everybody goes thru something in life...some get back up and keep on pushing, others never recover. I'm a fighter and I never give up!

Describe the emotions you'll be feeling as you walk to the blocks before your race.

I don't really get the emotional before a race. I just make sure I repeatedly go over my race plan in mind and just focus on what I need to execute. If i do that, I'm going to be hard to beat.

Are the 2012 London Olympics in your future plans?

2012 is definitely in my plans and I want to try other events to leave my mark on the sport. A double is definitely in the near future, maybe the 400/200 or 400 hurdles/200.

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