Chorzów (Poland) (AFP)

The German Johannes Vetter lit up on Saturday in Chorzow (Poland) the first day of an otherwise stingy Euro team athletics in great performances, making the 3rd best throw of all time in the javelin throw with 96.29 mr.

Fifth out of seven nations at the halfway point, the French team, deprived of many leaders (Renaud Lavillenie, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, Mélina Robert-Michon or even Jimmy Vicaut), alternated the good and the very bad.

On this chilly afternoon in southern Poland, the rain has threatened the weather without ever inviting itself.

From the sky it was not drops but javelins that fell, especially that of the German Johannes Vetter, much further than the others.

After an extra introduction (94.24 m, then the 7th best performance of all time), Vetter and his right bicep to make a gorilla pale simply sent his machine to 96.29 m, 3rd best throw of all the times, just over two meters from the world record of Czech Jan Zelezny (98.48 m in 1996).

With a light headwind, favorable conditions to make a javelin hover, the German gave hope for the best but had to put his javelin away after his second attempt.

"I'm a little sad because I had to stop before the end of the competition because of a pain in my right quadriceps, he explained. I'm happy with my performance of the day and to bring back seven. points for Germany. "

World champion in 2017, Vetter (28) definitely loves the Slaski stadium in Chorzow, where 7,500 spectators are allowed this weekend.

In September, he established the second best performance of all time (97.76 m), in the city of his grandfather's birth.

With his 94.20m in Ostrava ten days ago, he now owns four of the best eight jets in history, the other half belonging to Zelezny.

Huge favorite for Olympic gold in less than two months, Vetter has the opportunity to achieve a legendary season.

Author of an exceptional 2017 year (world champion, a throw at 94.44 m), the German had seen his progress slowed down in 2018 and 2019 by a persistent injury to the left ankle - a piece of bone moved freely - requiring injections before each competition, then an operation after the Doha Worlds (3rd) in October 2019.

- "Not yet optimal strength" -

Far from the records, the Blues showed two faces on Saturday in this team competition where the seven nations present (Ukraine forfeited) line up one athlete per discipline who scores points according to his ranking (7 in the 1st, 6 in the 2nd etc.).

They can be satisfied with four victories, including the authoritative one of Alexandra Tavernier with a very solid 75.06 m in the hammer throw (in addition to Mouhamadou Fall over 100 m, Thomas Jordier over 400 m and Rouguy Diallo in the triple. jump).

“I don't have the optimal strength yet to hold the jets at this intensity, it's super frustrating, I could have done better. If I had managed to go the distance, there was 76.50m minimum. But we should not reveal everything right away, "reacted the vice-champion of Europe.

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Second in the 5,000 m, Hugo Hay exploded his personal best in 13 min 17 sec 95 allowing him to get back into the race for the Olympic Games (July 23 - August 9).

The Blues have also experienced several disappointments, including the last places of Jimmy Gressier over 1,500 m and Floria Gueï over 400 m.

Great Britain leads with 95 points after the first day of competition just ahead of Poland (94.5).

© 2021 AFP