The champion visits Athens and tours the race course. 
ECUADOR, 16/06/2004. In days past Jefferson visited Greece for a week, touring the Olympic city where he was in a world event in 1997. But this time it was not to compete, rather to acquaint himself with the race course where next August 20th he will be competing with the best in the world, seeking to achieve his objective, which will represent the most important challenge of his life and in which he hopes to come out ahead.
Jeff was accompanied by his kinesiology, Dr. Marcelo Avilés. Together they toured the course meter by meter, carrying a hand-held computer, exhaustively examining the route, leaving not a single detail up in the air.
The course is not the best for the majority of race walkers, but it is perfect for Jeff; however, since he is training in similar and even more adverse conditions. All of his workouts have had extraordinary results, says Jeff, considering them to be the best of his athletic career.
Staring at the asphalt where with his stride he hopes to make the difference in the Olympic event, various feelings possess him. Melancholy is reflected in his eyes, remembering the past Olympics when he finished in fourth place, as well as his poor performance in the 1997 world championship where he finished 14th. But on the other hand, there is hunger, desire and the need to achieve excellence, and in this way, recover the peace of mind that was torn from him four years ago.
Thus Jeff fulfilled another part of his Athens 2004 objective, making it clear that he will be going to the next Olympics not to compete, but ready to give his life for his country.
He is confident that based on the hard daily work he is performing; everything will turn out well in the maximum event of world sport, where he hopes to write a new page in the history of his country.
It should be noted that construction in the Olympic stadium is still not complete; however, it is hoped that this facility will be ready before the beginning of the Games.
See all the images of his trip in the photo gallery.
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