8:15 p.m. Sasha Zhoya (21), nugget of tricolor athletics, is warmly embraced by the American Grant Holloway. He has just finished second in his semi-final with a very good time (13”15, -0.2 m/s of wind, second qualifying time), his personal record, and can dream of a podium in a national center of Hungarian athletics heated by the discus throwing competition. An hour and a half later, in lane 7, Zhoya timidly got out of the starting blocks and never recovered from his delay, slowed down by faults at the fourth and fifth hurdles, to cross the line in sixth position, in 13”26 (zero wind ), far behind Holloway (12”96 for a third consecutive title).
“I’m not happy with my start, I was sleeping in the blocks, I rushed because I wanted to have the same start as in the semi-finals, where I had succeeded. I thought about it too much, I could have been more free in my head. I’m taking this experience, I’m waiting for the sequel,” Zhoya then explained in the mixed zone, with a big smile on his face. “Satisfaction wins. I wanted to improve compared to last year, which I clearly did, I can only smile, “he says, a year after his elimination in the semi-finals at the Worlds in Eugene (Oregon, UNITED STATES).
The hurdler, who grew up in Australia where he was born to a French mother and a Zimbabwean father, is gradually fulfilling the expectations placed on his immense potential, for his second season over high hurdles (106.7 cm) seniors. But he will have to wait to win an international medal like his mentor Ladji Doucouré, 2005 world champion. After choosing France in 2020, the junior world record holder (12.72 in 2021, over lower hurdles) continues to chart his course towards the Paris Olympics in 2024, for which he has just validated his place, according to the selection criteria of the French Athletics Federation.
“It was very important for Paris 2024. This 6th place with a bad start is better, it gives me confidence, it takes away a little stress from me, I can’t wait to see what I can do next year. “, he projects himself. “After the half of course I thought about the medal, I had the second fastest time. I saw myself on the podium. That’s how you have to get into a final. I am only 21 years old, I am sure that in my career I will be on the podium with the gold medal, you have to be patient, “adds this young man who is often in a hurry.
The Blues, not yet rewarded in Budapest, may have regrets when they also placed Wilhem Belocian in the final. The Guadeloupean, exiled to Insep with Teddy Tamgho since 2022, missed his race, taking 8th and last place in 13”32. “I’m happy, I learned from these Championships, I’ve come a long way. I loved it to the fullest, I saw what a 110m hurdles final was like, I’m fully boosted to work for next year, ”he said. The third partner, Just Kwaou-Mathey, was eliminated in the semi-finals.
