Niels Laros is only twenty years old, but after a sensational summer he is today one of the favorites for gold in the 1,500 meters at the World Cup Athletics in Tokyo. A profile of a stoic top talent from a real athletics family.
It almost always stays cool, around and during his own races. But fifteen minutes after Laros qualified for the World Cup final of the 1,500 meters on Monday, the race of another does bring a lot of emotion to him. “Come on, come on, come on, Stefan!”, He calls to a screen somewhere in one of the corridors the National Japan Stadium.
Laros hopes that his buddy Stefan Nillessen will also qualify for the final battle in the other semi -final. During the last meters he pushes his head a little closer to the screen. “Come on Stefan!”, He shouts again, even though he can’t hear him.
Nillessen doesn’t make it. Just before the finish, the athlete who shares a hotel room in Tokyo with Laros passes by by a zipper competitors. In the meantime, Laros beats his leg. And throw another curse out.
“I would have liked Stefan so badly,” he says a few minutes later. “Not that it benefits me, it is everyone in the final. But we also have so much to each other. It is so nice to train with him, because we have about the same level. I train harder by Stefan. And I am also running harder in competitions.”
Last year the Laros and the two -year -older Nillessen both walked in the Olympic final in Paris. Laros became sixth, the two -year -older Nillessen ninth. “Now I will cheer for Niels in the stands,” says Nillessen. “A medal? Yes, that’s possible.”
Niels Laros sees size Nillessen grabbing next to the final place
‘If I get last, they are still proud’
The parents of Laros are also in the Stadium in Tokyo today. Marcel Laros and Sandra Hofmans traveled to the Japanese capital for the final that can become a milestone in Dutch athletics history. Because although the Dutch athletes celebrated greatest successes in recent years, it was mainly thanks to women like Dafne Schippers, Sifan Hassan and Femke Bol.
Laros can become the first Dutch man in Tokyo to take a medal of World Cup medal in an individual part since the Ignisious Gaisah (silver) in 2013. The 1,500 meter finalist of today was still an eight-year-old boy who combined athletics with football at the local club in Oosterhout.
The fact that Laros finally chose athletics over football was in line with expectations. Father Marcel was the fastest Dutchman in the 1,500 meters in 1995. He missed the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 at 0.08 seconds, while mother Sandra Hofmans was also at the national athletics top. In 1998 she became Dutch indoor champion in the 3,000 meters.
“But I never felt pushed by my parents,” says Laros. “I can talk about athletics infinitely with them. But that is mainly because they want to know things. Why did I make that tactical choice? They will never blame me. They look as a fan, not as a coach. If I get latter here in Tokyo, they are still proud of me.”
‘I saw Niels walking 150 meters in front of me’
For a long time Laros was not even the fastest child at home. As a teenager, brother Lars also ran in the national top and was faster because he was almost two years older. When they were sixteen and eighteen years old and together at the start at a 3,000 -meter competition in Utrecht, the roles turned around.
“At the start of the final round I saw Niels walking 150 meters in front of me,” Lars once said in the Pacer pacer. “I thought: what does he do? He just ran a limit for the European Championship under the age of twenty. At the age of sixteen …”
It was not an incident. Two years later, the super talent Laros surprised the athletics world by reaching the final at the 1,500 meters at the World Cup in Budapest. And he did that again at the Paris Games last year.
In the meantime Laros has become even better. Last month he defeated world toppers and won Diamond League matches in Brussels and Zurich. And in the semi -final in Tokyo he kept reigning world champion Josh Kerr behind him.
Nillessen saw it happen, just before he had to go on the job for his semi -final. “I know how good Niels is on training. But in recent weeks he also surprises me. Every game he is running. He wins. Here in Tokyo he is doing so well again.”
‘I keep that for myself’
By international media, Laros is now even pushed forward as a favorite for the world title. Certainly now that the last two Olympic champions – Jakob Ingebrigtsen (eliminated in the series) and Cole Hocker (disqualified in the semi -finals) – are missing in the final battle.
“Oh well, it doesn’t matter what they expect from me,” says Laros. “I also expect a whole lot of myself in the final. But what that is exactly, I keep that to myself.”
Nillessen can’t say it either. “But I can say that Niels is focused, he trusts in itself. He usually does not have more than healthy competition tension. That is not necessary either. Half of the world top has already beaten in the Diamond League. The other half was not there at the time. In the final we will see if Niels can defeat it. And I cheer him from the tribune.”
Niels Laros is only twenty years old, but after a sensational summer, he is one of the favorites for gold in the 1,500 meters at the world athletics championships in Tokyo Today. A profile of a stoic top talent from a real athletics family.
He Almost Always Stays Cool, Around and Duration His Own Races. But Fifteen Minutes After Laros Qualified for the World Cup Final Of The 1,500 meters On Monday, the Race of Another Evokes a Lot of Emotion in Him. “Come On, Come On, Come On, Stefan!”, He shouts at a screen somewhere in one of the corridors of the national Japan stage.
Laros Hopes That His Teammate Stefan Nillessen will also Qualify for the Final Battle in the Other Semi-Final. Duration the last meters, he pushes his head a little closer to the screen. “Come on Stefan!”, He shouts again, just though he can’t hear him.
Nillessen Doessn’t Make It. Just before the finish, The Athlete who Shares a Hotel Room with Laros in Tokyo is passed by a series of competitors. Laros Meanwhile Slams on His Leg in Frustration. And throws out another curse.
“I would have loved to have stefan there,” he says a few minutes later. “Not that I have anything to gain from it, it’s every man for hisself in the final. But we also have so much to each other. It is so nice to train with him, because we have approachedely the same run.
Last year, Laros and the two-year-old Nillessen Both Ran in the Olympic Final in Paris. Laros Finished Sixth, The Two-Year-old Nillessen Ninth. “Now I Will Cheer for Niels in the stands,” Says Nillessen. “A medal? Yes, that is Possible.”
Niels Laros Sees Teammate Nillessen Miss Out On A Place In The Final
‘If I Come Last, They Are Still Proud’
Laros’s parents are also at the stage in Tokyo Today. Marcel Laros and Sandra Hofmans Have Traveled to the Japanese Capital for the Final That Could Be a Milestone in Dutch Athletics History. Because Althegh the Dutch Athletes Have Celebrated Great Successes in recent years, this was Mainly thanks to Women Such as Dafne Schippers, Sifan Hassan and Femke Bol.
In Tokyo, Laros Can Become the First Dutch Man to Win A World Cup Medal in an Individual Event Since High Jumper Ignisious Gaisah (Silver) in 2013. The 1.500 meter finalist of Today was an Eight-yard athletic, Who Combined Foot, Who Combined Fote Oosterhout, Brabant.
The Fact That Laros Ultimately Preferred Athletics about Football was to be expected in Terms of Genes. Father Marcel was the Fastest Dutchman in the 1,500 meters in 1995. He Missed the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 by 0.08 Seconds, While Mother Sandra Hofmans was also at the National Athletics Top. In 1998 she Became Dutch Indoor Champion in the 3,000 meters.
“But I have never felt pushed by my parents,” Says Laros. “I can talk to them endlesly about athletics. But that is mainly because to know theSings. Why did I make that tactical choice? They never blame me for anything. They look as fans, not as coaches.
‘I SAW NIELS Running 150 Meters Ahead of me’
For a long time, Laros was not even the fastest child at home. Brother Lars also Ran in the National Top as a teenager and was faster because he was Almost Two Years Older. When they were very Sixteen and Eighteen years old and Stood Together at the start of a 3000 meter race in Utrecht, The Roles Were Reversed.
“When Entering the Last Round I SAW NIELS Running 150 Meters Ahead of Me,” Lars Once Said in the Podcast de Pacer . “I thought: what is he doe? He was just running a limit for the European Championship Under Twenty Years Old. At Sixteen …”
It was not an incident. Two Years later, The Super Talent Laros Surprized the Athletics World by Reaching the Final Of The 1,500 Meters At The World Championships in Budapest. And he did that again last year at the games in Paris.
Meanwhile, Laros Has Become Even Better. Last month he defeated world toppers and won Diamond League competitions in Brussels and Zurich. And in The Semi-Final in Tokyo He Kept Reigning World Champion Josh Kerr Behind Him.
Nillessen saw it happen, just before he had to hit the track hisself for his semi-final. “I know how good Niels is in training. But in recent weeks he has also surprised me. He wins every competition he runs. He is doing so well here in Tokyo.”
‘I’ll keep that to myelf’
Laros is now just Put Forward by International Media as a Favorite for the World Title. Especial now that the Last Two Olympic Champions – Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Eliminated in the Series) and Cole Hocker (Disqualified in The Semi -Finals) – Are Missing in the Final Battle.
“Oh, it Doesn’t Matter what they expect from me,” Says Laros. “I also expect a lot from myself in the final. But what exactly that is, I’ll keep that to myself.”
Nillessen Can’t Say Either. “But I can say that niels is focused, he trust’s himself. He usual Doesn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’T than Healthy competition stress. He doesn’t have to. He has been already defeated half of the world’s top in the Diamond League. Also Beat Them.