Doha (AFP)
Eliminated for the first time from his career in qualifying for a big open-air championship on Saturday at the Doha Worlds, world record holder Patrick Lavillenie refused to see any sign of a decline in the world. 33 years old, already making an appointment in 2020.
Q: What happened?
A: "Stupid things, I'm doing a pretty good first jump but I put the brakes on after my first try at 5.70m and 3 tries, it's going really fast, I'm lucid, I've missed In spite of my experience, I did not manage to get out of it.It's the famous trap of qualifications.It's the game.I did not take the competition lightly, I applied but when it does not, it does not. "
Q: Some will say that Renaud Lavillenie is finished ...
A: "I guess I'm going to laugh at reading the press tomorrow, but no one has the right to say what I have to do and it's already over." It's been 10 years since I made 18 medals and I miss a competition and we say it's over, do not get mad at people, I'm going to laugh and take a lot of lightness about it, I've always managed to bounce back and take myself But I have found a physical base 2019 is over, it was a shitty year, I'm going to do a little bit of a break and then I'll go back to work for 2020 to be much better. is a disillusionment but you have to accept it, I'm going to use that frustration to be better, I'm not planning to stop my career on it. "
Q: You feel less disappointed than your brother Valentin who was in tears despite his qualification for the final ...
A: "He's emotional and that was one of our goals to go to the finals together, but those are things that are coming in. It's frustrating and not easy, but in the end I'll catch up later. I'm glad he was good and did the right thing to go to the finals, now he has a competition to prepare quietly, and I'm going to get over that in a few weeks, I'm not too worried, I'll be there to give him everything he needs, it's going to be a special moment to be in the stands, he has to relax now to have fun in two days. "
© 2019 AFP