Hammer thrower Quentin Bigot made his return to competition on Thursday after more than a year and a half of absence and took third place in the competition in Montreuil with a throw of 75.42 meters.
The 31-year-old Frenchman, vice-world champion in Doha in 2019, had not hung a bib since the European Championships in Munich in 2022, where he injured his back. Victim of a herniated disc, he then had a blank year in 2023.
After a first throw at 73.79 meters on Thursday, Bigot then threw to 75.42 meters, a performance he matched on his fourth try.
He finished 3rd in the competition behind Polish Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki (79.54 meters) and his compatriot five-time world champion Pawel Fajdek (75.74 m)
“There was obviously apprehension and stress for this return, in a big meeting, it’s human after almost two years without competition, it’s not the easiest thing but it was my choice,” explained Bigot after the competition.
“The performance is correct, even in 2022 when I did 80 meters, for my return I had done 76 meters, I am not very far from it here,” he added. “We know very well that the big objective is not now, but the Olympics.”
The Olympic minimums are set at 78.20 meters.
