Christophe LEMAITRE Interview – “I’m split between pride and frustration”

 His injury to the right thigh, suffered just after the finish of the 100m in the World Championship final, has forced him to put an end to his running season. However, the French sprinter hasn’t yet left Moscow. At the invitation of his equipment supplier, Asics, he met up with the international press on Wednesday 14 August. Extracts.

Christophe, how do you feel three days on from having left the track of the Loujniki stadium on a stretcher at the end of the 100m final?

I’m on the mend. I’m barely limping now and I no longer need crutches to get around, but my season is over. I’m having treatment twice a day, in Moscow, with the FFA’s medical team. For this reason in itself, it was logical for me to remain here until the end of the Worlds. The other reason is my desire to cheer on those athletes from the French team who are still competing.

How are you spending your days in Moscow?

I’m undergoing treatment and I’m going to the stadium to watch the competitions. I’m walking too so as to eliminate the œdema in my thigh.

With the benefit of hindsight from the past three days, how do you assess your performance over the 100m at the World Championships?

The races confirmed that I was ‘match fit’ at the time. That’s especially true of the semi-final. I discussed it afterwards with my coach, Pierre Carraz. I was overly tense when I ran it, but I still achieved a time of 10’’00. Such a performance proves that I was back to my best level. I’d have preferred to pull off a better result in terms of the place and the time, but the competition was positive in terms of the way I ran it. I’m quite proud to have contradicted everyone by reaching the 100m final.

Between this pride at reaching the 100m final and the disappointment of not being able to defend your chances over 200m, what is your overriding sentiment?

I waver between the two. On the one hand, I’m reassured by my journey to the 100m, and in some ways I feel slightly liberated by not having to remain so focused on athletics as I have been over recent months. On the other hand, my withdrawal from the 200m leaves me with a sense of frustration. I’m convinced that I had a chance to perform very well in it. Moscow has proven that I’d got the feel for it again, but unfortunately it was a bit late in the day.

What lessons will you draw from this competition?

I have the certainty of having found the keys to pulling off a good performance again. I now have a season ahead of me to work on it and get even stronger.

Without you, how do you envisage the 200m? Do you have a prediction?

I see Usain Bolt securing the win, ahead of Warren Weir. For the bronze medal I imagine there will be a battle between Wallace Spearmon and Nickel Ashmeade.

With the benefit of hindsight, how do you rate the 100m final?

Usain Bolt logically won, but Justin Gatlin was a threat to him. He even led at the start of the race. That proves that Bolt is no longer as domineering as he was in 2008/2009. He remains untouchable though. To my mind, the final podium of Bolt, Gatlin and Carter is logical and unsurprising.

Were you surprised by the reception you got from the Muscovite public?

On the clapometer, prior to the 100m final, you were only ‘beaten’ by Usain Bolt. A little, yes. I didn’t expect to be so widely recognised and appreciated in Moscow. I’d never been to Russia before. As such I hadn’t imagined that I would inspire such a reaction from the public. It’s a nice surprise.

Agence Blanco Negro