Europe 1 with AFP 8:24 p.m., March 5, 2023
Kevin Mayer has been crowned European heptathlon champion for the third time in his career.
The Frenchman thus made it possible to bring France a first title in this competition.
A medal that the athlete was aiming for and which gave him full satisfaction at a press conference.
Kevin Mayer, gold medalist in the heptathlon at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Istanbul, after battling until the last event, assured that "money was not an option".
The Frenchman won the third European title of his career and the first gold medal for the French team in these championships.
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Reporter
: How hard was that gold to earn?
Kevin Mayer
: "It was my most difficult European Championship (already titled in 2017 and 2021) after a horrible day yesterday. With a little sleep it was better, I had a very good second day, a 1,000m not at all expected, I had the guts to start again during the last 400 meters. It was incredible. It had been a long time since I had experienced a 1,000m where I could restart and express myself so much. I hadn't done any 1,000m preparation for two years. Doing 2 min 44 in these conditions makes me really proud."
Journalist
: Did you consider second place during the race?
Kevin Mayer
I didn't give up.
It's nice to have this mental rebound."
Journalist
: What did you learn today for your future competitions?
Kevin Mayer: "It gives me confidence for Budapest (the World Championships in August, editor's note). And it's experience for the biggest deadline of my life (the Paris Olympics in 2024), that I build little by little. I have it in a little corner of my head, it's still a long way off but each time I put a little brick in the building."