Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin 10:12 p.m., January 19, 2023, modified at 10:13 p.m., January 19, 2023

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, triple Olympic medalist in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, has decided to retire from sport at the age of 37.

The former 2018 European champion returned to this heavy decision on the program "Europe 1 Sport" (every evening from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.).

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad bid farewell to athletics tracks.

The 3000 meter steeplechase specialist has announced his retirement from sport at the age of 37, a decision that has been carefully considered and that the French champion had in mind for some time. 

"I made my decision in 2018. When I was European champion in 2018 in Berlin, I said to myself what am I doing there, I no longer had this desire to run, to be champion world or Olympic. I got the title of European champion and I felt something was happening at that time", he explained in the program Europe 1 Sport (every evening live and in full from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.).

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"I forced myself"

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad therefore only pushed for one thing, to put away her pointe shoes: "When I got up in the morning, I forced myself to go to train so I felt it was time to stop and I "I want to do something other than compete, go on an internship. I felt that I needed to spend more time with my family and with my loved ones. I wanted to move on", says is it justified at the microphone of Jacques Vendroux.

A feeling of saturation that haunted the French athlete to the point of no longer wanting to go to competitions.

The 2018 European champion even gave an anecdote to demonstrate the state of mind in which he was: "I had returned to a great level this year (in 2022) and I was at a meeting. I was hired, I had my plane ticket, everything was taken care of. Well, on the day of departure I didn't leave because I didn't want to run."

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad can now take advantage of his relatives.

"It's a new life" for those who now aspire to new projects, but who intends to stay close to the red runs.