Barely back from a training course in Tenerife (Spain) and before joining Reims for a training session, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde came to the premises of our newspaper's headquarters this Monday afternoon. Relaxed, talkative and sharing his passion for photography, the European 110m hurdles champion, bronze medalist at the last World Cup in Doha (Qatar), elected French athlete of the year by his federation, stayed two hours to discuss all subjects: its preparation, its Olympic ambitions, the Calvin, Amdouni and Claude-Boxberger cases, without forgetting the issue of shoes (carbon) which are so much debated.
Do you know the date of the 110m hurdles Olympic final in Tokyo?
PASCAL MARTINOT-LAGARDE. No ( Editor's note: August 6 ) and you shouldn't think about it. There are many steps still to be taken. To be an Olympic champion is to make history, but it remains abstract in my head. There is no such thing as a book (smile) . He writes a little bit every day through hard work.
You are on the list of eight priority athletes * for the Games: are you therefore sure of going to Tokyo?
If I am on my two legs at that time, yes, it is almost confirmed that I will be on the Olympic team. It’s a big thorn in the foot that I’m being removed I do not have to run at all costs after the minima (13''32) even if there is no question in my mind of not succeeding. I want to deserve my place.
You have never been spared from injuries. Is your body your main enemy?
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He's bugging me ... (sic) It's scary to think that if you can't put your foot down, you can miss your career. Absent athletes are always wrong and it's horrible. To avoid this, I changed my training methods. Each day with my coach ( Editor's note: Benjamin Crouzet ), we adapt to my state of form, my feelings. We do daily tailoring to avoid injury.
Did the bronze medal at the World Cup in Doha change your life?
I have the modesty to step back and tell myself that I had a great race that day without being pressured. Afterwards, it is not because I have this medal that I have to sell the Olympic Games as accessible.
No more chocolate medal! THIS IS IN BRONZE ❤️🥉 pic.twitter.com/7U155QncIG
- Pascal Martinot (@PascalMartinot) October 3, 2019Do you feel like a pillar of tricolor athletics?
Above all, that means that I have worked enormously well since I started playing this sport. But what I appreciate in this aspect is being able to share and learn from others. Being a "pillar", and I want quotes, allows me to speak to young people to share my experience. I love that.
French athletics is not doing well. How do you judge the image he has been sending for several months?
It pisses me off ... I don't want the general public to sit in front of their TV and say to themselves: " They're all rotten! ". I tear myself away from training, I kill myself at work, I weaken my body, I sacrifice my family life to make results. Shame on those who take drugs! When an addict gets caught, his whole sport and his country are tainted. Those who charge, I take them ... and I say to them: "Get out! "
Do you know Clémence Calvin and Morhad Amdouni?
Few, sincerely. Cross-country skiers train separately.
And Ophélie Claude-Boxberger?
Not at all ! I never met her. For me, this is an unprofitable scandal because we are not talking about a flagship athlete. He was someone we didn't know and who came to taint the environment. It is a very large doping exposure for a very small performance exposure.
🏆 Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (ES Montgeron Athletics) was elected Male Athlete of the Year 2019 with 32% of the votes on https://t.co/02q9GiDdb6 and the FFA social networks!
📢 # Athletes2019 pic.twitter.com/1Xw1cKJ6GV
What do you think of shoes that make running faster. Do you mind?
The track is not affected. It's for long distance runners. On the marathon, they allowed with other parameters to break down an extraordinary barrier even if the world record (1h59'40 '') of Kipchoge is not approved.
Do you have a preference for the future French flag bearer in Tokyo?
I hope it will be Renaud (Editor's note: Lavillenie) . It would be a great tribute to him and he deserves it. He brings so much to his sport.
Will you be attending the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?
I hope. It's doable. I will be 33 years old even if in sprint, it is considered old. I want to end my career in 2024. It would be crazy.
* With Quentin Bigot and Alexandra Tavernier (hammer), Renaud and Valentin Lavillenie (pole), Djilali Bedrani (3000 m steeplechase), Ludvy Vaillant (400 m hurdles) and Yohann Diniz (50 km walk).
