Olympic Q&A: Triple jumpers look for gold

American triple jumpers Melvin Lister (26, Fayetteville, Ark.) and Kenta Bell (27, Chula Vista, Calif.) are at Team USA training camp on Crete to prepare for the Olympic Games. The Olympic Trials champion and third-place finishers, respectively, Lister and Bell are two of the most dangerous jumpers in the world. Lister improved his personal best by roughly 2.5 feet to win the Olympic Trials in a meet record of 17.78m/58-4, which is the farthest jump in the world this year. Bell, meanwhile, has jumped over 57 feet in 10 consecutive competitions, making him the most consistent triple jumper in the world. They, along with Olympic Trials runner-up Walter Davis, will represent the United States at the Olympic Games in Athens.

The duo spoke with the press on Monday. Below are excerpts from the conversation. For full athlete bios, visithttp://www.usatf.org/events/2004/OlympicGames/roster_alpha.asp

Melvin Lister

Q: What is your training schedule like?

A: Right now I'm trying to get used to the weather out here and training in the morning, because my first round is going to be in the morning.

Q: How did you find the conditions?

A: Hot, but I'd rather be hot than cold. Hot and dry.

Q: How do you rate your chances?

A: I think my chances are great. Honestly I think I have the best shot of anybody, because I have the best jump and I've done it in the last month, not last year.

Q: Do you expect to match your jump from the Olympic Trials?

A: I expect to exceed it. On my best jump, I broke down going into the pit. If I change a few things, it should work.

Q: What makes this competition different for you?

A: I came in 2000 to the Olympics in the long jump. It's 2004, I'm older, and I want to come back with hardware this time. I'm more determined. It's not a trick this time. It's for real.

Q: You have a full-time job?

A: I'm still working. I go to work in the morning, get off at 3:00 so I can make it to 4:00 practice. It's something I'm used to doing. It's hard, but I can't quit. Now that I have a sponsor, I'll start working fewer hours.

Q: Talk about the Olympic Trials and the U.S. triple jump team, which also includes Walter Davis.

A: It was the best competition ever. I feel like we have a chance to go 1-2-3. Honestly, I hope I get first place. That will give the American [triple jump] team the respect back that we deserve. I don't think we're respected like we should be, but we're on our way.

Kenta Bell

Q: You've been picked for the silver by USA Today. What do you think of your chances?

A: I think I have a great shot to win. [Christian] Olsson [of Sweden] is the defending world champion, so naturally you're going to pick that person to win. But based on this year's results, and my consistency, I think I'm the favorite. My first choice is definitely gold.

Q: What do you think separates you from your competition?

A: Considering my career, I think I want it a little more.

Q: What kind of professional career will you pursue?

A: Right now I consider myself in my career. Once I finish here, who knows what might happen. I might go into reporting, commentating, or even law.

Q: How long will you keep training?

A: Who knows, I could go until I'm 36, 38, or something could go wrong tomorrow. I'm just trying to enjoy it all.

Q: How do you feel about competing in Athens?

A: I am enthusiastic, excited ... this is what I've been dreaming about. It's kind of like explaining love. All these thoughts and feelings and passions are going through you - there's no one true way to describe it.

Q: Talk about the quality of the Olympic Trials competition, where four men went over 57 feet.

A: That competition motivated me in the sense I hadn't lost a meet in a very, very long time. Losing that meet put a chip on my shoulder. It forced me to go back and analyze what I did wrong. It definitely put a fire under me. I don't like to lose. It also put some pride in me, because I lost in the best competition ever. I just got out-jumped that day. That means we have the strongest team in the world.

Q: What is your biggest strength?

A: I think my biggest strength is that I coach myself. You have to know yourself and understand your event extremely well. Some days in competition I have to step back as a coach and say, 'what am I doing wrong?' I need to always go out there with a plan. I have every competition scripted going in. Things may go wrong on one jump, but I say, let's go to step 2, step 3.

Q: What did your win at the 2001 World University Games do for you as a jumper?

A: Victories on that level show I can jump with the best in the world. I've jumped far in the U.S., but that showed I could jump well overseas or on a bigger venue. It said I've arrived. That's the biggest thing about it. It showed me I was on the right path in training and could show up and compete with the best in the world.