The recently concluded world indoor championships in Glasgow marked several athletes rising to fame and bringing glory to their respective nations. The 19th edition of the event kept fans on the edge of their seats for three days. It was the United States that finished in the numero uno spot in the medal tally and set the athletic world ablaze.

Among several names, Nikki Hiltz was also a shining star who brought honor to America after winning a silver medal in the 1500-meter sprinting category. In a podcast conducted by one of the foremost track and field platforms, the national champion uncovered some of the secrets, and she talked extensively about her priorities and her thought process while racing through the Commonwealth Arena.

Diving into the champion psyche of Nikki Hiltz

After she was done and dusted in Glasgow, Hiltz had an exclusive interview with Citius Mag on Spotify about her performance. Talking about her mindset while performing and her take on the world indoor championships, she states, “We’re here to medal. We worked so hard, and no one worked harder than any of us. You just have to do it on the day. I think we all did it, and it’s so cool.”

Talking about the significance of world indoor championships, she added, “Obviously it’s indoors and sure there’s an asterisk because it’s not the Olympics or world outdoor champs, but it’s a race when it matters. It’s a championship.” She also disclosed that she had a sore throat on D-Day, and she was told to run a bit more conservatively than usual.

Shedding light on racing tactics during the finals, she stated that there was not much room to think and she had to plan her race accordingly, and she did use her brains and save her stamina to run faster in the “last hundred.” She also shared a fun incident that unfolded during the race.

When competition consumes

While she and her compatriot Emily Mackay were in the middle of the race, when only three laps were remaining, she realized that Mackay had miscounted laps, which happened due to her aggressive running. However, later, Hiltz came to know that her counterpart did nothing wrong, and it was Mackay’s nitro booster tactic that she probably used to finish the race quickest.

29-year-old Hiltz finished second with an overall finish of 4:02.32, which was also her personal best, while Mackay also clocked her personal best and placed third with a 4:02.69 finish. Freweyni Hailu of Ethiopia got ahead of her American rivals and stood atop the podium after crossing the finish line in 4:01.46. Now, with that much-needed confidence by her side, the American star will be looking to redeem herself at the Paris Olympics.

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