Dutch sprinter Schippers eyes Euro step to Olympic glory
Dafne Schippers remains, rightly, in highly confident mood heading to the European Championships on home soil and then the ultimate test, the Olympics.
The Flying Dutchwoman continued her impressive early-season form with a crushing victory in the 200m at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo on Thursday.
In chilly conditions, the world champion benefited from a superbly-executed bend to hammer past in-form Jamaican Elaine Thompson.
Schippers, the 2014 European double sprint champion, clocked 21.93 seconds, with world silver medallist Thompson second in 22.64sec.
"To run under 22 seconds in these conditions is very special for me," said the Dutchwoman who set the Beijing world championships alight last year with victory in a third-fastest time ever of 21.63sec.
Her time in Oslo was a record for the Bislett Stadium and the Diamond League as well as being the season's fastest time.
It left her in confident mood heading to the July 6-10 European championships in Amsterdam.
"For me it's a little bit easier than for some other athletes because I don't have trials," she said in reference to the notoriously tough Olympic trials in sprinter-heavy Jamaica and the United States.
"They have trials, racing and competition at the highest level. I don't have that so that's good for me and for my progress."
Schippers, who will only race the 100m and 4x100m relay in Amsterdam, added: "I need the Europeans as a first step to go to the Olympics.
"The 100m is going well, my start is getting better and better, and I hope to race well in the European Championships and win the 100m title."
The 23-year-old said she was looking forward to competing at home.
"I'll have lots of family and friends out supporting me. I'm very happy to be the face of the European Championships."
When asked if she thought she could beat the legion of Jamaican and US sprinters, Schippers replied: "Yes it's possible to do it, like last year in Beijing."
She has described that 200m victory in the Chinese capital as the "perfect race", having already won a silver in the 100m.
"I think we surprised ourselves in Beijing," she said of herself and Thompson, who claimed silver that day.
"But after all the Diamond Leagues I need to rest and train little bit before the European Championships in my country. No more races until then."