European Athletics Championships: three Frenchmen in the 400m hurdles final, including the favorite Happio

What if the scenario happened again 48 hours later?

On Wednesday evening, three Frenchmen took to the final of the 110m hurdles in Munich for a raid of two medals (silver for Martinot-Lagarde and bronze for Just Kwaou-Mathey).

They will be just as much on Friday evening at the start of the 400m hurdles.

Wilfried Happio, Ludvy Vaillant and Victor Coroller won their place this Thursday in the semi-finals.

After missing the world podium by a breath last month in Eugene (USA), Happio easily dominated his semi-final in 48′'89.

He will be accompanied in the Friday final by Vaillant (2nd in his half in 48′'52) and Coroller (2nd in 49′'46).

“I saved quite a bit for tomorrow (Friday)”

Best European performer of the season, Happio can dream of an enticing duel with the Norwegian Olympic champion and world record holder Karsten Warholm, only 7th at the Worlds after being injured in early June, but easy winner of his half Thursday in 48′'38 .

“It was a warm-up.

I assured, I was clean except on the first hurdle where I was a little close with the adrenaline.

I think I made a good half and I saved myself quite a bit for tomorrow (Friday), ”appreciated Happio.

“The form is going up.

There are two or three settings left.

I'm thinking of mental work, of getting back into the championships, it's already my third peak in form of the year, there's a bit of fatigue coming.

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"Karsten Warholm is the GOAT ("Greatest of all time", the best of all time, editor's note), it is thanks to him that today so many people are interested in the 400m hurdles and that the level grows from year to year, again greeted the 23-year-old Frenchman.

It's nice to fight against him.

Five years ago I was a crumb!

There, claiming a medal like him is just an honor.

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Happio revealed himself this summer at the highest level.

In three weeks, the Frenchman was placed on the front of the stage.

By his times which allow him to place himself in the right line of Stéphane Diagana (47′'34), the tricolor world champion in 1997. But also because of the extra sportsmanship.

At the end of June, just before competing in the final of the French Championships, Happio was physically attacked on the warm-up stage by a young man, whose sister has since filed a complaint against the runner for sexual assault.