Something special expected from Sonia in 5,000m final
Partner Nic Bideau, and her former underage coach Sean Kennedy have been mightily impressed by her performances and hunger in recent weeks. O'Sullivan, according to Bideau, reacts best to the type of pressure in events of this stature.
"She seems to have found the Grand Prix circuit somewhat jaded. Similar routines and pace-making have taken the fun out of competition. If you examine her record of the last three years you will see she needs exciting challenges to be at her best challenges like these world championships.
"I also think she gets more motivated now, when she puts on the green vest of Ireland," Bideau added.
"That was reflected in Sydney at the Olympic Games, and again in Munich at the European championships last year. While she has had problems this summer the thought of coming here and running in the world championships has sparked her drive again."
Her performance in Zurich was along expected lines, he stressed, as the Cobh athlete has always run well there over the years.
"Two weeks ago she came back from there after a good run in the 3,000m and I said to her then that she could win the world championships."
The Australian added that her performance in the heats of the 5,000m on Tuesday evening underscored his belief in her ability to do well at these championships.
"I knew coming out here she was ready and she was as cool as a breeze before the heats. She lost to Szabo in Zurich but she felt she had the beating of her here and you saw what happened in the heats," he added.
Kennedy, watching those championships back in Cobh, could not have been more impressed by Sonia O'Sullivan's performance in Tuesday's heats.
"She really laid down a marker," he said. "This was Sonia O'Sullivan running but I have to admit I was not at all surprised.
"I watched her run in Zurich and I knew then that she was ready to compete in Paris. Szabo went 50 or 60 metres clear but she did not attempt to get involved in a chase. She remained steady, was obviously sticking to a plan and ran her own race and her time says the rest.
"On Tuesday evening she was back in with Szabo and she looked just magnificent while Szabo had to pull out all the stops just to qualify."
He feels that his former pupil appears to have planned her season to perfection.
"I think she has been very cute this year as regards her training and her racing. I think she has arrived in Paris at the point where she peaks and that is a very important factor," he said.
"If you look back you will see all those athletes in the field have been racing week in, week out. They are bound to be feeling the affects of the summer campaign.
"Sonia, on the other hand, has been training. She raced very lightly and, as I see it, she has timed her peak to perfection."
He believes a hard race would suit Sonia tomorrow and he felt the Chinese runner, Yingjie Sun, will be the one to ensure the required pace.
"The other night she caused havoc with the field in her race. While the times in the other heat may have been quicker, Sonia's heat was the better race.
"The Chinese woman does not have anything going for her other than her stamina. She does not have finishing speed so I would not regard her as a medal contender at this distance.
"But if she goes to the front in the final, that will suit Sonia who likes to go out hard, settle in the middle of the race and then let it all begin.
"I honestly believe, from what I have seen from a distance, Sonia can take something from these championships. Whether it is gold, silver or bronze, I would not like to say."
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