Spanish walker Maria Vasco, seen here with Barni - the mascot of the 20th European Athletics Championships, is hopeful that her European dreams would be fulfilled in Barcelona next month.

Spanish walker Maria Vasco is one of the big bets for a medal for the hosts this year's European Athletics Championships. In a brief interview with the website of the Barcelona organising committee www.bcn2010.org, Vasco talks about her chances after winning over 20km at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, last month.

Curiously, despite winning medals at every other major event on the athletics calendar, including still being the only female Spanish athlete to win an Olympic medal, Vasco has not yet got a medal in her three appearances at the European Athletics Championships, her best result being fifth in 1988 when the women's Walk was over 10km.

The 2010 European Athletics Championships will be held in Barcelona between July 26 - August 1.

After winning at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup last month, the only medal missing in your collection is the one from the European Athletics Championships; will this have changed after Barcelona?
I really look forward to achieving this medal. It's actually paradox they I haven't achieved it yet, as for most athletes on this continent, the best chance to climb the podium is at the Europeans. However, this is not so in our event as the world's best athlete come from our continent. Obtaining this medal is my big motivation every day.

Do you think it's your moment now after several bad experiences at the European Athletics Championships?
It's about time to change this run of bad luck at the European Championships and I am hoping this should happen in Barcelona. I'm very mature now. I know what my chances are and winning the World Cup in Chihuahua gave me an extra push. Preparations over the last year have been going very well, the world cup was an intermediate challenge, now I think and hope that I will get to Barcelona in top shape. It much depends on the next one and a half months of preparation.

Is competing on home soil another big advantage?
Of course, for any athlete it's the greatest thing to compete at home. Some might say that the pressure is too high, but I don't think that way. I really look forward to seeing people support me. I have many friends and colleagues who have never seen me compete at big international events, and now they can. Moreover, the Walk events take place in the city centre, so everyone can watch us.