A sure bet in tricolor athletics for years, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (31) admitted having been “beaten regularly” on Saturday at the French championships in Albi in a 110m hurdles of a “stratospheric” level, from which he only took fourth place in 13 sec 25.
What feeling dominates after this race?
“It’s a huge, huge disappointment, because I have zero excuses. Normally, you are in the France team with 13 sec 30. There, I am not on the podium in 13 sec 25. The level has become stratospheric. It’s not even French, it’s global. The French just responded present and I feel that I did not respond sufficiently present. Everyone has raised their level. I raised mine, but I raised it to a French level while the others raised it to a world medal level. We are still talking about 13 sec 01 (Sasha Zhoya) and 13 sec 07 (Wilhem Belocian).
You will probably not be selected for the world championships in Budapest (August 19-27)…
“I have to tell myself that it’s a chance, that I’m going to clear my head and come back stronger next year. I know I’m a fighter. All the times I slapped myself, I came back so strong. I have no idea if I can do it again, but I intend to. We’ll see in 2024. I’m going to have the fangs, because there, I’m not hiding from you that I’m at the bottom of the hole. I want to scream. I was beaten on a regular basis. Everything is fine, I have no physical problem, I was on the ball. And I’m not on the French podium. This is unheard of. You’ve seen me with the France team jersey for ten years and now I’ll be at home on the sofa. It’s a page that turns, the youth is strong.
Does this race sound like a handover with Sasha Zhoya, winner in 13 sec 01?
“I went to see Ladji (Doucouré, Zhoya’s coach) after the series. I told him: It would be an honor if I could be in competition with Sasha, the day he beats my French record (12 sec 95). It’s less than a tenth. There was wind (2.3 m/s), but who cares. Even when it’s windy, you have to repeat the rhythms. So he is able to grind up to 13 seconds. It might fall. It’s all the harm I wish him.”
