Since he has the Olympic gold medal around his neck, Niko is practically flying. His daily routine is full of interviews, autographs, receptions, celebrations...Everything develops with a phenomenal speed. We joined him yesterday evening in Paris. He was very tired, but happy.
- So, are you still on another planet?
"You can say it twice. I´m still walking on air, I´m still on the cloud nine. I don´t really realise what we achieved, but when I see the joy around us, I know that we did something great."
- We see you, the players, everywhere, particularly you. You are in the newspapers, we can hear you in radio, watch you on all TV stations. Tell us a bit about your last 48 hours.
"The last time we talked, I was in the bus on the way to Olympic Village. After it, we were invited to different telecasts and they couldn´t really cope with our joy, especially those from Canal+. We lived beautiful moments. Then, we joined Club France, once more celebration, speeches, interviews. In the end, we found a place only for us. To get up on Monday was very difficult, we didn´t sleep a lot, evidently. We packed our stuff and we drove to airport. It was impossible to sleep in the airplane, it was too much excitation. And after that we arrived in Roissy, what a delirium! There were hundreds of fans who waited for us. We had to wait an hour and a half for our luggage and we needed another hour to get into to the bus. It followed the reception organised by the federation in Montparnasse. We went to sleep very late. And yesterday it took place the descent of Champs-Elysées and the reception at Palais Elysée. I am knackered."
- Did you shake hand with the president Sarkozy?
"Yes, I did, but I didn´t have too much time to talk to him. But it will follow another festivity, when all the athletes which won medals in Beijing will be soon congratulated and distinguished."
- And when you will join your Zebras from Kiel?
"I will join them on Friday, in Munich for the final of the Supercup."
- Will you be on the court?
"No doubt about it! But I must admit I small feel pains everywhere. So, we will see."
NK22.COM
