Ten days after his injury and ten days before the pole vault qualifications at the Tokyo Games, hope is back at Renaud Lavillenie.
The 2012 Olympic champion was able to resume training, as he indicates on his Twitter account, by sharing one of his “first jumps”.
"A huge step has just been taken," writes the 34-year-old Auvergnat.
And the ankle is responding quite well, it's reassuring and encouraging for the days to come.
"
10 days after my sprain and many hours of care and work on it, a huge step has just been taken: my first jumps 💪🏼💪🏼
And the ankle reacts rather well, it's reassuring and encouraging for the days to come… D-10 before qualifying 🙌🏼👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/D9AX5B0LWx
- Renaud LAVILLENIE (@airlavillenie) July 21, 2021
Lavillenie had suffered a big sprained left ankle on July 11 just before the start of the Sotteville-lès-Rouen meeting.
The level he will display in Tokyo still remains a mystery, as the former world record holder represents one of the main French medal chances in athletics.
Duplantis seems untouchable
Before his injury, the best French pole vaulter in history had again crossed more than 6 meters this winter (6.06 m), as he came out of several seasons marred by physical problems.
Absent from the European Indoor Championships in early March in Torun, Poland due to a calf injury, Lavillenie resumed after a six-week break and established the 2nd best world performance of the year this summer (5.92m) behind the Swede Armand Duplantis (6.10 m), world record holder (6.18 m).
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Sport
Tokyo Olympics 2021
Athletics
Renaud Lavillenie
Pole vault