Monaco (AFP)

Has France found a future pearl in the middle distance? At 23, Jimmy Gressier, registered in the 5,000 m in Monaco on Friday, is progressing at a steady pace, on road or cross-country, to the point of embodying a great promise in the perspective of the Paris Olympics in 2024.

"We have not seen an athlete of this quality for about thirty years," Jean-François Pontier, the running manager at the French Athletics Federation (FFA), told AFP without hesitation.

By observing the latest exploits of the kid from Boulogne-sur-Mer, there is indeed something to be impressed with.

Triple European hopeful cross-country champion (2017, 2018, 2019), double continental hopeful gold medalist in 2019 over 5,000 and 10,000 m, European record holder for the 5 km road since the start of the year ( 13 min 18), the northerner rider does not stop clearing obstacles with ease.

The one who will stand in his way on Friday at the Louis-II stadium could be important for the rest of his young career. The 5,000 m of Monaco, his first participation in a race in the Diamond League, the major circuit of world athletics, will indeed allow him to gauge himself and move forward in his thinking for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

- "Big step" -

For the moment, it is the 3,000 m steeplechase, which he will discover in Décines on August 29, which holds the rope, the idea being to move towards longer distances (10,000 m or marathon) in anticipation of 2024.

"Coming to Monaco, it's really nice, it makes me want, he explained Thursday in his soft voice. Three years ago, I came here to see Usain Bolt run, now it's up to me to tread this track. I hope to beat my personal best (13 min 23 sec 04 over 5,000 m, editor's note) and there will be a great battle with the best Europeans and Africans ", in particular the Ugandan world champion in the 10,000 m Joshua Cheptegei, who aims for the world record of the Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele (12 min 37 sec 35).

"In my head, there is Tokyo but also Paris-2024. There are stages to be taken and tomorrow is a big stage".

Coming from a difficult district near Boulogne-sur-Mer (Chemin vert), like a certain Franck Ribéry, Gressier "draws" part of his strength from his modest origins and his loyalty to his childhood friends, according to Jean- François Pontier.

"He is someone who has enormous qualities, a very big engine and a very big motivation to succeed, because of his history and his career. What characterizes him the most is his mind, he does not has no limit. When he sets a goal, he follows his idea and that often makes a big difference, "says the technician.

- PSG fan -

Big fan of Paris SG, he even dabbled in football (double champion of France UNSS), befriending the Parisian defender Colin Dagba, before devoting himself exclusively to running. He is also not reluctant to do a few "fives" with his friends, just to stretch his legs.

Like a legacy of this very special training for a "runner", Gressier even takes pleasure in celebrating his successes like footballers. Even if the exercise sometimes turns into a joke like during his success in 2018 at the Euro cross when, wanting to cross the finish line by sliding on his knees, he fell head first into the mud. An image that has delighted social networks.

From his young years as a footballer, when he liked "to play in all positions", Gressier also inherited this taste for versatility even if the time has now come to settle for good to be exact at his meetings. Olympic.

But Jean-François Pontier assures him: "He knows where he wants to go". It is up to him to erase some gaps.

"He must progress in terms of flexibility, if he wants to go steeplechase, and diet. He must gradually get into the real skin of a high-level athlete," says the federal official. This necessarily means a good race on Friday.

© 2020 AFP