In 1:59.49, Lamote was edged out by British runner-up Keely Hodgkinson (1:59.04), with Poland's Anna Wielgosz taking third (1:59.87).

"Today I proved that I was really sick (from Covid-19, editor's note) in Eugene and that I have the physical shape to fight against the best. For my (new) coach, it's also the validation of our work. It comforts us. Me, it really reassures me a lot. I'm happy to still be in the game at 28 years old and to be able to still be in the race for Paris-2024, it's super important for me and it's cool", appreciated the half-crosser.

Remaining on the front line almost the entire race, Lamote was able to respond to the attacks of her competitors at the end to secure the podium, without being able to do anything against the favorite Hodgkinson, Olympic vice-champion in 2021 and world vice-champion on last month in Eugene (USA).

Eliminated in the semi-finals of the Worlds, Lamote finds the podium of a major summer competition four years after her second place at the Berlin Euros, when she had already won continental silver in 2016 in Amsterdam.

"I'm a chatterbox, I'm so happy with my race!, she said with a smile on her lips. I lacked a little confidence at one point and they left, in the final stretch after , I really ran and I realized that maybe I could have done even better. But it was perfect frankly. I went to get this medal in a different way from the previous ones, I had the impression to be an actress of the race."

In four years, Lamote changed coach, leaving Thierry Choffin and Fontainebleau to settle in Montpellier with Bruno Gajer.

Worn out by years of high level and recurring stress, the semi-founder had taken a full two-month break after the Tokyo Olympics, where she was eliminated in the semi-finals.

“I needed it, I was exhausted from these two very intense Olympics, she explained to AFP in May. All my old pains which had become chronic disappeared. When I returned to the stadium, I had want to train."

© 2022 AFP