Olympic Games: Renaud Lavillenie leaves Tokyo without a medal on pole vault
Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie, 8th in pole vault, at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. REUTERS - KAI PFAFFENBACH
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
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Renaud Lavillenie finished 8th in a pole vault competition at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games won by the Swede Armand Duplantis (6.02 m), ahead of the American Christopher Nilsen (5.97 m) and the Brazilian Thiago Braz (5.92 m) Olympic champion in Rio in 2016, this Tuesday, August 3.
Injured to the ankles, the Frenchman was too weak to climb a third time in a row on the podium of the Olympics, after gold in London in 2012 and silver in Rio in 2016.
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From our special correspondent in Tokyo,
In Renaud Lavillenie's career, there is of course a before and after the Olympic Games in Rio.
The one who crushed the pole vault of his talent from 2012 to 2016 never fully recovered from his silver medal five years ago, from the whistles of the Brazilian public who wanted to destabilize him for the benefit of Thiago Braz Da Silva, and especially the torrent of criticism that fell on him when he denounced the attitude of the Carioca fans.
But this August 3, 2021, in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo (deprived of Covid because of the public), the French could dream of a third podium in a row at the Olympics, he who was champion in London in 2012.
However, it was without counting on a bad reception during the warm-up of Renaud Lavillenie.
Falling back to the ground, the former world record holder hurt his right ankle.
Already injured in the left ankle on July 11, the ex-superstar of the discipline was too weak to jump well.
Grinning and his ankle bandaged, Renaud Lavillenie tried everything but was unable, in such circumstances, to compete with Thiago Braz or the new pearl of pole vault, the Swede Armand Duplantis.
Despite a first successful attempt at 5m70, the Habs did not go higher thereafter, failing at 5m87 then 5m92.
The Clermontois played his all-out but left Tokyo on this sad note.
At 34, the best of his career is undoubtedly already behind him.
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