Interview: Tokyo 2021 - Jelle Geens

In the anticipation of Tokyo 2021, we interviewed our qualified athletes before they pack their bags! This week in the spotlight: Jelle Geens

• Jelle Geens / 26-03-1993 / Heusden-Zolder, Belgium / Triathlon

"Of course it is still 2 and a half months until my competition, but I've had a very good winter. I didn't suffer any injuries and I didn't get sick either so I was able to finish every training perfectly. This gives me a very good feeling towards Tokyo 2021. I have the feeling I've taken steps forward this winter and I'm looking forward to those competitions with great confidence."

"Our sport consists of three sports: swimming, cycling and running. I started athletics as an 8-year-old child and it is still my favorite sport. If triathlon wouldn't exist I would probably have stayed with athletics to see how far I would have gotten there."

"I started triathlon relatively late. In competition, I was 16 years old when I finished my first triathlon. I also only started swimming since then, before I've practised mostly athletics."

"The preparation for the season went very smoothly. As already mentioned, I was able to finish all my training sessions perfectly and I feel that I've taken steps forward this winter."

"My victory in Montreal in 2019 remains the race I'm most proud of. With this victory I became the first, and still the only Belgian to win a World Triathlon Series (a competition of the world championship). After this victory, I also knew that I could beat anyone in the world on a good day and this has given me a lot of confidence in the races and training sessions afterwards."

"Corona has had an impact for me. Mainly through the fact that there have been far fewer races that I have been able to go to, both last year and this year. I always kept training and I also kept my motivation to train. We were lucky that we were still able to finish a few nice races in 2020, for example I finished 4th at the World Championship in Hamburg."

"As the plan now stands, I will leave for Tokyo on July 14 or 15 to get used to the hot and humid conditions for 10 more days."

"The individual men's triathlon is on July 26 and the Mixed Team Relay with my Belgian Hammer colleagues is on July 31."

"After my win in Montreal in 2019 I realized on a good race day and with a good scenario I could beat anyone, so a medal is really my ambition. For the Mixed Team Relay we are aiming for top 5. There are basically 4 countries who are stronger in normal conditions, of course on location conditions are never normal and a lot can happen in the Mixed Team Relay."

"For me, the greatest Olympian of all time remains Michael Phelps. He has won the most number of medals ever at the Olympics and excelled in 3 Olympics in a row, which is quite exceptional."

"I was approached by 6d Sports Nutrition for their 6DreamsToTokyo campaign. After testing a number of products I was very quickly convinced of the quality. I have been using 6d products for several years now and I'm now even more convinced of the quality and importance of these products during my competitions, but also during my training."

"The 6d product I use the most is without a doubt the Isotonic Sports Drink. Every bike ride upward of 2 hours there is at least one drinking bottle with Isotonic Sports Drink on my bike. I also take a bottle of Isotonic Sports Drink with me when I go for a brisk run or swim training. Furthermore, I'm also a huge fan of the Mango Energy Gel, I also use this both on training and during the race."

"As a triathlete, we train many hours a week and it's important to eat enough energy during, as well as before and after training sessions. That's why I use the Isotonic Sports Drink and Energy Gel so much during training."

"Not eating or drinking enough on the bike. Since we train 3-4 times a day it's really important to keep the energy supply in your body on point and therefore it's important to eat enough during a long bike ride."

"Our races last 1 hour 45 minutes so it is important, especially with the hot and humid conditions in Tokyo, to get extra energy during the race. I usually do this by taking one bottle of Isotonic Sports Drink on the bike and two energy gels. But, if I could only choose one product I would go for the Cola Energy Gel because it contains both energy and caffeine."