Torun (Poland) (AFP)
Two years after leaving Glasgow without any title, the France team has no shortage of assets to repair this anomaly at the European Indoor Athletics Championships which begin Thursday in Torun with Kevin Mayer, Renaud Lavillenie and leaders as leaders. Wilhem Belocian.
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Mayer, record in the lead
The world record holder in the decathlon played the secretive and did not formalize his presence at the Euro until the very last moment.
The idea had been germinating in his head for a long time, just to reconnect with the adrenaline of a big competition five months before the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Ultra-favorite of the heptathlon for which he has held the European record since 2017 (6479 points), the Frenchman perceives the passage through Torun as a "repeat" for the Olympics.
Unable to come to the end of his decathlons during his last two appearances in the championships (three tests bitten to length at Euro-2018, abandonment due to injury at the Worlds-2019), Mayer ensures that he is in great physical shape and wants take advantage of it, two and a half months after securing his Olympic qualification in Reunion.
"There was no reason not to do these championships, it's a good preparation for the Olympics, he explains. I am trying to find my body of a young man. I can not wait to see what it's going to be because from a feeling point of view, it's really amazing how I feel. "
To the point of thinking of Ashton Eaton's world record (6645 points)?
"If we look at test by test what I can do, it can make a big total, says the French. I have the potential to do it, but we have to manage to follow it up."
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Lavillenie, a big stone for Duplantis
It was difficult to imagine at the start of the year Renaud Lavillenie fighting for a 5th continental indoor title, as Armand Duplantis seemed untouchable on the pole.
But the Swedish prodigy (21) would do well to be wary of this extraordinary competitor.
At 34 years old, the Frenchman has suddenly recovered and is enjoying a second youth.
Once again capable, after five years of famine, of sailing above 6 m (6.06 m, Saturday in Aubière), he presents himself in Poland as a very dangerous rival for the one who had stolen his world record ( 6.18m) and has the best jump of 2021 (6.10m).
"I won't be the favorite, but the objective will be to piss off Mondo as much as possible. I've never been so close to being able to beat him, even if he has a margin on me," said the 2012 Olympic champion. .
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A first for Belocian?
The French tradition on hurdles could still be perpetuated at the Euro indoor.
If the multi-medalist Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, injured, preferred to shorten his winter season, the Blues do not lack ambitions over 60 m hurdles.
In the absence of the European champion in the 110m hurdles, Wilhem Belocian is thus the main contender for the title.
World gold medalist among juniors (2014), the Guadeloupe (25) set the best European time of the year (7 sec 45) and the 2nd world behind the fresh American world record holder Grant Holloway (7 sec 29).
Enough to allow him to dream of a first crown in seniors.
"I was able to achieve some big races this winter with two big confrontations with Grant Holloway in particular, it allows to arrive psychologically serene in a championship", he indicates.
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Gressier, Raffin and Jordier in ambush
With the second European time of 2021 over 3,000 m (7 min 39 sec 70), Jimmy Gressier is able to go and win at 23 the first major title of his career.
But the great hope of the French background, scheduled to shine at the Paris Olympics in 2024, will have to subdue the scarecrow Jakob Ingebrigtsen for this.
The bet seems impossible, unless the Norwegian phenomenon (20 years), aligned on 1500 m and 3000 m, leaves feathers in this daring challenge, he who will have to complete four races in four days.
It will also be necessary to keep an eye on the young protege of Teddy Tamgho, Melvin Raffin (triple jump), and Thomas Jordier (400 m), respectively second and third in the continental record.
© 2021 AFP