Gladys Tejeda leaves Peru and goes to train in Kenya: “I have ambitious goals”

His steps have crossed three Olympic Games, always raising the Peruvian flag. Gladys Tejeda is one of the best representatives that Peruvian athletics has given us and this 2021 closes the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle, but the next one has already started: Paris 2024. The best Latin American in the Olympic marathon and recently classified for the World Media Marathon tells us about his plans and in particular about a very special one, that of working with children and young people from the villages of Junín.

—How do you see not only 2021, but the closing of the Olympic cycle this year?

It has been a very difficult year. 2020 was super complicated and this 2021 was reactivated little by little. I am grateful to everyone who has supported me, from my coach, my team, my sponsors. Tokyo was a very difficult goal and that is why I am happy with the results. Athletes go with ambitious goals, but we were very surprised by the weather and the protocols. They were obstacles that we had to overcome and take great care of ourselves.

—The athlete values ​​what has been done beyond the results, right?

I am very proud to have represented my country at the Olympic Games despite adversity. Everything that could be done was done, they fought to the end and that will serve as an example, because of the responsibility that one carries. Now we set ourselves new goals. For the next Games in the three years that remain, we have very ambitious goals and for me it would be an honor to represent Peru for the fourth time, a woman for the fourth time in a marathon. The road is not going to be easy, but the project is ambitious.

I am satisfied with this 2021 for being the best athlete of the year by the Athletics Federation. That fills me with pride, to be nominated in this way because it is an example for young people that despite the difficulties we can move forward and nothing can stop us so easily.

—You have already started the process with qualifying for the World Half Marathon

We have closed the year in the best way. We went to Valencia in a pretty quick planning. It was known that they were going to break the world record. It was an A1 competition and we have been fighting there. It was fantastic because they made the world record, the first lady running at 1:03 minutes, it’s something historic. It’s running to the rhythm of a male athlete, very hard. We went and did the best role. My goal was to see how I physically close after the Tokyo marathon. I did 1:12, qualifying mark for the World Cup, which has been postponed to November. That gives me assurance that I can prepare better. I have always liked the half marathon and cross country. I even made the South American half marathon record in a world championship, occupying ninth place. that makes one continue to grow.

– Due to the tight schedule, it will be a 2022 with many competitions

Bolivarians also come in July. It is another challenge that we have planned. We have to fight to be on the podium of the 21 kilometers and we are going to fight it. But first there are competitions that we are going to polish.

“And when would you be running a marathon?” You have to make the mark for Santiago 2023

We have a marathon scheduled for the end of February. That is the approach I have. In a few days I will travel to concentrate more, polish myself more. The end of the year holidays are approaching and that can distract me. I want to be focused because we have very ambitious plans.

“Will you travel to Kenya, like before the Olympics?”

At first it was programmed for Colombia, but thank God, the support has given us the possibility of being able to travel to Africa. It’s really a joy for me to go back there to train. It is a super place where athletics is dominated and expectations are different. I will have that space to prepare 100%. It is likely that I will spend the holidays there. I will be a month and a half and it will be full concentration, as is high performance.

—You are going to be with athletes who dominate the long-distance events …

I have that experience of training in Africa. For Tokyo, the weather played a trick on us because we went in the cold season, June-July and then Tokyo was hot. In these times the weather is fine. we are going to Kenya, where he trains with a lot of athletes.

“For now, how is the financial support going?” A program like Vamos con Tokio has not yet been announced, which was important for those who qualified for the Games.

I think it must be on its way. Sure they are looking at the issue of calendars, to see from when the brands are valid to be clear about budgets. High-performance athletes must not be forgotten, we must continue to prepare because everything is up against time for Paris 2024. We were affected by the pandemic due to the canceled events. We are going to win some competitions because that helps us to cover expenses. This part has been tough. Now, programs like Vamos con Tokio must have continuity because it is an example for the boys: If the elite don’t have support, the boys will be able to say: “Why train if they don’t even support them”. Hopefully some new program is on the right track.

—More now, with boys already classified for Santiago 2023 such as Sofía Mamani and Julio Palomino

They have to prepare, focus more. The races are becoming more competitive, so they have to keep preparing. That they keep working because maybe at the last minute some decisions can change or other guys come out strong and improve the times. High performance is that, to prepare, not to stand still. They are going to give a lot to talk about, they have a lot of projection. Hopefully they receive all the necessary help so that they can consolidate.

—When we talked in Tokyo, you mentioned to me about leading your career with an injury on your back. How do you carry that?

That subject is difficult to mention. It is an injury that I have had since I was little and when I was in high performance, I already had this problem in the lower back. Now I work on that, every day with therapies, I know that I have that injury and I know that I do not have to neglect myself. Therapy, feeding. A lot of discipline, which is not only resting and not going out, but also taking care of yourself at all times. Many doctors told me that it could end badly, but I keep going. But for that you have to have a mental strength to keep going.

—Despite that, the great objective is Paris, which would be your fourth Games

Paris is my goal. Being there for the fourth time would be an honor. I’m going to fight for it, I’m going to do it with my own effort. If I give myself that opportunity, welcome. Now there is no need to advance because there is a lot to work on.

—Your other goal is to make a mark on athletics in your region

I have a long-term goal, but being in high performance, I’m still giving it up, but I want to take it. It is a project called the Gladys Tejeda Project, which is to attract children, young people who have the will of their own that they want to achieve high performance. This was born because I have seen many children with limited resources in the hamlets who go hungry or children who start working at an early age, struggle to study and want to fight to be athletes. Many have approached me and said “I want to be like you” or curious parents who have approached me and asked “how do I do? my daughter doesn’t have slippers ”. That touches my heart and from there this thought of doing a project with these boys begins, to see how they can develop and do not pass limitations as I have had at the beginning. To reach high performance without support, without guidance, I don’t want these guys to pass. They are already focused on wanting to represent their province and we are working. In a couple of years we will see new faces in athletics. We are not a bunch, four women, five men and we are working with them. Some are moving out of the hamlets and in a short time they are doing very well. There was a children’s championship in Lima and these guys surprised me and even though they don’t have spikes or good shorts, they fight to be ahead. We want those kinds of children so that they can represent us in the future.

—You are going to be a coach when you stop competing

I will need the support of other private companies to take these guys and take them in a better way so that they can develop without limitations and can reach high performance very quickly. Now I am focused on myself, I have very big responsibilities, but it is nice to work with them. As long as you’re active and strong, they can really enjoy working together. They look at you, you are like a mirror and they try to imitate and do their job in the best way and that is satisfactory.

—In addition, internal competition is encouraged

I always say that we will improve working as a team or when there are more work groups. If there is only one athlete, we will settle faster. That is what I convey: “where there is more competition it is better for you, you will learn.” That is what happened a few years ago. The Huancayo region was a power, at the national level they could not surpass us and that has been weakening. Today Puno and Cusco are strong. They are cities with height, with places to train. We want to pick that up with these new guys.

—A sports competition like the one you had with Inés Melchor. Now she is going to be a mother … hopefully she can come back

With Inés we have always had many competitions and that has made Peruvian athletics improve. Each athlete is different, they do their projects, she is taking a path of being a mother, which is not easy. Hopefully she can pick up, but that is up to her.