Not selected for the Tokyo Games last summer, the 31-year-old double Olympic medalist (4x100m relay bronze in 2012 and 200m in 2016) takes a raw look at the French elite and the French Athletics Federation (FFA), from Méribel and the finals of the Alpine Skiing World Cup where his department (Savoie) invited him for a project linked to Paris-2024.

Jamaican Usain Bolt wins the 200m final ahead of Canadian André De Grasse (d) and Frenchman Christophe Lemaître (g), at the Rio Olympics, August 18, 2016 Luis Acosta AFP / Archives

Q: With what desire do you project yourself towards the summer season?

A: "I want to find the France team, at the Worlds in Eugene and at the Euro in Munich. I still have possibilities. The blue jersey is the goal of each season, it always makes me dream ."

Q: How do you view French athletics?

A: "I was saddened to see the result at the Tokyo Olympics (a medal, silver for Kevin Mayer) compared to what we could have, and even should have harvested. In Rio in 2016 we had done six medals, a big performance Once my generation, with Mélina Robert-Michon, Kevin Mayer, Renaud Lavillenie, is gone, I say to myself... + But who will be there after?+ That scares me a little. If the next generation doesn't break through, if we don't give them a chance, it's going to hurt and that's a shame."

The joy of French decathlete Kevin Mayer, after his silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, August 5, 2021 Ina FASSBENDER AFP

Q: What is currently missing?

A: "It lacks relationships, people. I understand that we have to focus on the sporting side, but we need a more global approach, with more contact, more ground on the part of the federation to know the problems of athletes and rectify the situation. I have the impression that at the fedé there is not a serene and ideal atmosphere for high performance work. After these failed Games, I do not have the impression that there is a questioning, but rather that we blame the bad results only on the athletes, while there is a lot to say on the federal side, which has its share in the bad performances. We are preparing for these Paris Games in athletics but too late. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see how that could change by 2024.If the problems persist until then, then it will take a major overhaul within the federation and hope to create a dynamic with the young people, to rebuild a conquering French team.

French sprinter Christophe Lemaître, after his 200m series at the World Athletics Championships, August 7, 2017 in London Jewel SAMAD AFP / Archives

Q: Have you been asked to provide your opinion, your experience?

A: "Not at all. I don't know if there have been any meetings or discussions (with athletes). For the relay, I was told that I was no longer in the group. I am totally discarded so I don't have too much information."

Q: Two 4x100m relay athletes were recently sanctioned for their behavior in Tokyo, after in particular expressing their distrust of the coaching staff...

A: "I had the athletes (Mouhamadou Fall and Amaury Golitin) on the phone, they explained their version to me. It only surprised me halfway. Basically, I didn't have a good relationship with the coach (Dimitri Demonière, replaced in 2022 at the head of the relay by Richard Cursaz and Fabien Lambolez), we did not agree on certain decisions, the athletes were not consulted.I also found the training not qualitative enough. We weren't ready to do very high level 4x100m. We had written an open letter together to express our unhappiness. We felt like we were being ignored."

Q: Among the next generation, what do you think of sprinter Jeff Erius (17), who equaled your French junior record in the 60m this winter?

A: "I met him this winter in competition. First of all, I hope that he continues to progress, that he confirms in seniors, and above all that we leave him alone. The federation must help, but let's leave him out of the wars of egos and don't want to take him to Insep (National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance) at all costs. a lot of people of my generation who were uprooted, at Insep, and who did not break through. Insep is a very nice structure but without feeling with the coach, or in case of discomfort, the athlete does not The federation must develop high-level athletics everywhere in France, by giving clubs and structures the means to develop.That young people are detected and accompanied as best as possible without uprooting them, protected from national coaches who would like to appropriate them for their ego and their image."

French sprinter Jeff Erius, during the 60m final at the French Indoor Championships, C, February 26, 2022 in Miramas CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU AFP / Archives

Interview by Robin GREMMEL

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