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You don't have to be a big pessimist to imagine France having a difficult second Olympic week in Tokyo at the Olympic Stadium. For a Kevin Mayer, tree hiding the forest, how many disappointments and other poor performances will he have to endure? Impossible to say but this Saturday morning almost put a first slap in the meager hexagonal ambitions of the podium. In particular to those of Renaud Lavillenie. Hit in the left ankle about three weeks ago, the 2012 Olympic champion said he did not know what to expect at all for pole vault qualifications. His last days in Kobe, where he was finishing his preparation, had been rather encouraging, but would that be enough in competition?
The first two attempts of the Clermont pole vaulter did not encourage optimism. Twice, he stumbled over a modest bar at 5.50m, on which, surprise, the great Swedish favorite Armand Duplantis had also failed before flying over it a good 40 centimeters on his second attempt. The proof that the start of the competition, so early, is never easy. But to come back to Lavillenie, he found himself on the edge of the void, with one last chance to erase this bar and not finish his Games even before having actually started them. Mentally, perhaps more than physically, the Frenchman flew away and pushed back the deadline. So that behind, he passed 5.65m on his second attempt and 5.75m on the first, giving a glimpse of an interesting rise in power. Thathe will have to confirm in the final next Tuesday.
I can tell you that when you find a four-leaf clover in a three hectare field, it is treasured and taken as a sign of fate.
Pierre-Ambroise Bosse
For Pierre-Ambroise Bosse, the ax has gone even closer. The 2017 800m world champion snatched the last qualifying place for the semi-finals by a hundredth of a second. “
What luck!
», He then blurted out in the mixed zone. "
I can tell you that when you find a four-leaf clover in a three-hectare field, you keep it preciously and take it as a sign of fate. I'll go take my chance.
Bosse, who has run very little this season due to injury, led his streak most of the race before being easily overwhelmed in the home stretch, finishing 6th and struggling in 1'45''97 . A strategy that he strongly reproached himself with: "
It is a flaw, an admission of weakness.
I did it because I had legs but it wasn't really planned.
When I started to understand the times, I said to myself as much to continue since I told myself that even by doing 4 or 5, with the legs that I had, I will pass.
In the end, I do 6, and I could even have done 7 or 8, that's nonsense.
I am sickened by my lack of lucidity which almost cost me dearly.
That should have cost me dearly.
"
It was difficult.
So far, I don't really have an explanation.
Melina Robert-Michon
If Lavillenie and Bosse continue their journey, this is not the case for Mélina Robert-Michon (42 years old). The 2016 Olympic discus champion was eliminated with a throw from 60.88m, insufficient to be among the twelve qualified for Monday's final. This is a very big disappointment for the Lyonnaise. The holder of the French record (66.73 m in 2016) had yet arrived in good form in Tokyo after having succeeded in June her best competition in nearly four years with a throw at 65.30 m. : "
It was difficult. So far, I don't really have an explanation. It's a really special competition and I see that for everyone. I never managed to really express myself. I was inside. Technically, it was not at the top, it lacked relaxation which is normal at the Games. But normally, I know better how to handle this type of situation.
"
