Exclusive interview: Pol Moya looks ahead to the World Indoor Championships

The Andorran middle-distance runner reflects on his preparation, career and ambitions ahead of his next international challenge

As the World Indoor Championships approach, Andorran middle-distance runner Pol Moya arrives at a key moment in his season, combining experience and strong preparation ahead of one of the most demanding events on the international calendar.

With more than a decade in athletics and appearances at both the Olympic Games and major global competitions, Moya continues to establish himself as one of Andorra’s leading athletes. Following a consistent winter build-up, including altitude training camps and specific performance work, he now looks to translate that preparation into results on the track.

Interview

Tell us about yourself
My name is Pol Moya Betriu. I compete in athletics, mainly middle-distance, with the 1500 metres as my main event and occasionally the 800 metres.

You have a long trajectory in athletics
Yes, I’ve been in athletics for over ten years now. In fact, I was just talking about it yesterday with a teammate—it’s been 10 years since my first World Indoor Championships in Portland 2016.

The most important competitions I’ve taken part in are the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, which were held in 2021.

How has your preparation been for this World Championships?
This past year of preparation has gone really well. Since September, when pre-season started, we’ve been able to train consistently. Apart from a couple of minor setbacks, we’ve built a strong base and accumulated a lot of kilometres.

We’ve also completed two altitude training camps, one in Andorra and another in Madrid during this final week before the World Championships, where we also worked with a hypoxia chamber. I believe I’m arriving in very good condition, and now we’ll see what we can do.

What does it mean to represent Andorra and compete in events like the GSSE?
For me, taking part in the GSSE and any European or World competition is a great honour, especially representing my country. Every time we wear the Andorran jersey, we carry all our teammates and compatriots with us.

The GSSE are particularly special because, in major international events, we are not many athletes from these countries, but in these Games we come together in large numbers across different sports. It creates a strong sense of unity and team spirit.

What does qualifying for the World Indoor Championships mean to you?
Reaching the World Indoor Championships is something I’m very proud of, as it was my main goal for this winter season. Achieving it shows that we are on the right track and that we’ve accomplished our first major objective of the year.

What are your goals for this competition and the season?
For this World Championships, I have to be realistic. I would love to reach the final, and that’s my goal, but only nine athletes qualify and the level among the 30 competitors is extremely high.

That said, once we step onto the track, I will give everything. I won’t hold anything back and will compete with ambition and confidence to fight for a place in the final. The main objective was to be here, and that’s already achieved—now it’s time to enjoy the experience, and anything more will be a bonus.

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, I aim to improve my personal bests in both the 800 and 1500 metres. The main goal is to compete at the European Championships in Birmingham, and potentially the Mediterranean Games, which are still to be confirmed.

What advice would you give to young athletes?
I would tell young athletes to be patient, consistent and resilient. In the end, things do come together, and when they do, this sport is one of the most rewarding there is.

When will you compete?
My race is on Friday at 18:50. I hope to give my best performance, and I encourage everyone to follow it closely. Thank you very much and a big hug to all.

A step forward on the international stage

With his race set for Friday, Pol Moya approaches the championships with ambition and determination, fully aware of the level of competition but ready to perform at his best.

Having already achieved his primary objective of qualifying, the Andorran athlete now looks to make the most of the opportunity, using this experience as a platform for the rest of the season. With personal bests to chase and major competitions ahead, the World Indoor Championships represent both a milestone and a stepping stone in his continued progression.