On June 21 in Tashkent, at the Gennadiy Arzumanov Memorial, Kazakhstan’s Vitaliy Zems not only won the 200 metres with a time of 20.88 seconds, but also broke his personal best set three years ago. He shared how it all came together in an interview with qazathletics.kz.
– Vitaliy, congratulations on your win and new personal best! How do you evaluate the race? Did you feel that you were on track for such a result?
– Thank you! I’d say there are still things I could have done better, but overall, I’m satisfied. I wasn’t thinking about the time. I had a clear race plan, and I focused on executing it.
– You confidently ran two rounds of the 200 metres. What was harder — the prelims or getting mentally ready for the final a few hours later?
– Recovering after the prelims and getting focused for the final was definitely harder, especially because it was really hot. I had to warm up for the final in a very energy-saving mode.
– In the final, you clocked 20.88 seconds — a personal best in the 200 metres. What helped you push through and get that result?
– My mindset really helped. After I saw my time in the prelims — 21.10 — I was sure I could break my personal record in the final.
– Did you feel pressure from your rivals or were you in control the whole way?
– The main competition was with a runner from Turkey — we were separated by just three hundredths of a second. We were neck and neck on the straight all the way to the finish line. I’m glad I gave it everything to come out on top.
– When you saw the result — 20.88 — what were your first emotions?
– I felt relief — I had won and set a personal best I’d been chasing for so long. I was incredibly happy and overjoyed in that moment.
– Overall, how was the Arzumanov Memorial in Tashkent — the atmosphere, the organisation?
– The competition was top-notch. This was my second time competing there. Both times, everything was excellent — organisation, officiating, the stadium — all at a high level. I really hope we see more events like this in Central Asia, where athletes can deliver strong performances.
– And finally: what would you say to yourself on a day like this?
I’d say: well done, enjoy the moment — but there are many more races ahead. I need to make the most of the form I’ve built. Hopefully, this is just the beginning.
In the photo: June 21, 2025. Gennadiy Arzumanov Memorial. Vitaliy Zems after the 200-metre final.
