Paris (AFP)
French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie injured his left ankle during the warm-up just before the start of the Sotteville-Lès-Rouen meeting, less than two weeks before the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games (23 July-8 August ).
The 2012 Olympic champion landed badly on the side of the landing mat and had to forfeit.
He must undergo examinations in the hospital to assess the severity of his injury, according to his supervision.
The former world record holder (34) is one of the main chances for a French medal in athletics at the Olympic Games.
After several seasons marred by injuries, the Clermontois had finally regained heights of more than six meters this winter (6.06 m) before being hit in the calf and forfeiting the European Indoor Championships in Torun.
After a six-week break, Lavillenie got off to a good start to the summer season as he is the 2nd best performer of the year (5.92m) behind the untouchable Swede Armand Duplantis (6.10m), record holder. of the world (6.18 m) and the favorite of the Games.
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