From the special reporter "Vijesti"
Saturday is the biggest day in Marija Vuković's career and a big day for Montenegrin sports.
The final program in athletics is a first-class event at all Olympic Games, which until Tokyo was held in front of full stands, with roars and applause from the audience.
The final evenings of the "Queen of the Games" are always "high demand" spectacles, for which more tickets were requested to Tokyo, and which can be attended by a limited number of journalists...
The Olympic Stadium in Tokyo will be empty today, but nothing can diminish the glamorous spectacle...
It is the scene where the 29-year-old high jumper, a former child prodigy, then a "lost" talent, and now a member of elite society, will appear.
The emotions after placing in the final fights for a medal have not subsided yet, but Marija is ready to suppress them, she is ready to soar once again, as she did in the qualifications, when she successively and without error overcame the heights, including the norm of 195 centimeters .
"I woke up with tears in my eyes, but I calmed down. I trained, I got into a rhythm, I know I haven't finished my work. The first goal was to enter the final, the second is to surpass my best result and to surpass myself in the way of thinking and jumping", says Marija Vuković.
She is aware that she made a great result by reaching the finals, because apart from the messages of support she received from all sides, especially her closest ones, she was congratulated for her place among the best by the current Olympic champion, Spain's Rut Beiti.
"I told her that I am grateful and proud that she contacted me. I really am, and maybe that's a sign. This means that I am noticed, that I am at the top", said Marija.
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Five years ago, Rut Beitija won gold in Rio with a jump of 197 centimeters, the same amount as Marija Vuković's best result achieved just before the Olympic Games.
In Tokyo, the competition is hellish, 14 girls jumped the norm, 10 of them in their career jumped over the two-meter mark...
"I know everything, I knew before the qualifications who all were in the competition. I will try not to pay attention to them, whether they can jump higher than me. I will focus on giving my best."
There is, however, another moment, after the brilliantly done qualifications. Now the competitors will pay attention to Maria...
"I guess they wonder how, where I came from... It's logical, I've been thinking that way for ten years. My goal is to turn off all thoughts on any topic, but just to concentrate on my performance and to enjoy myself once again. I've never felt better, everything came together and regardless of the competition, I want to give my best and be satisfied with what I showed after the final".
There are 14 best in the final, and among them two favorites - the Ukrainian Jaroslava Mahučki, who jumped 206 centimeters this year, and the great Russian Maria Lasickene, a three-time world champion, who will also have a huge motive for the Olympic gold, because due to the suspension of the Russian athletics teams missed the Games in Rio de Janeiro.
There is also the American Vashti Cunningham, and the Australian Nicola McDermott, with whom Maria has a great relationship. The two of them congratulated each other on their place in the final with a hug.
"We met again, we said goodbye once again, we have similar views on many things. I am very glad that we will be jumping together again".
At the Olympic Games, you generally don't fly (too) high, it is, after all, a fight for medals, not for the best results.
"I think two meters will be needed for a medal. Anything can happen, but below two meters, it's difficult...", points out Vuković.
The high jump final starts at 12.35:XNUMX p.m. our time.
Bonus video:
