RENAUD LAVILLENIE, WORLD POLE VAULT RECORD: „An international event, a French feat.”

For Bernard Amsalem, the President of the French Athletics Federation: “Renaud Lavillenie’s jump extends far beyond athletics. In a matter of hours, amidst what is an intense period of sports news from the Winter Games, his jump has become one of the most striking events in the recent history of French and world sport. It’s an absolutely extraordinary achievement and one which, until now, we were more familiar with in athletics since Usain Bolt’s 9.58s in the 100m in Berlin in 2009.”

Bernard Amsalem explains: “this tradition for French pole vaulting is incredible; Vigneron, Houvion, Quinon, Galfione, Mesnil, and so many others, all broke records and secured amazing medals. All of them went very high, but never to the heights of the seemingly inaccessible Bubka. Since his Olympic title in London in 2012, Renaud has been writing his own page in the history of pole vaulting and French athletics as a whole.

Following on from this latest feat and his victory, some 21 years on, over Serguei Bubka, he has gone down in global sporting legend in just one move. This performance will also enable the Federation to make pole vaulting an enduring tradition in our country, at the heart of our development strategy, and we look forward to the Olympic Games in Rio to push us even higher!”

Together the President and France’s Technical Training Manager (DTN) would like to thank and congratulate all the team responsible for providing Renaud Lavillenie’s technical support, at the front line of which is his coach, Technical Manager, Philippe d’Encausse, a former world class pole vaulter and a pure product of France’s technical tradition.

For Ghani Yalouz: “Renaud has demonstrated that he’s a very fine champion. After securing Olympic gold, he has marked the history of his sport forever. His joy and the emotion he conveyed to us yesterday are a fantastic message for all the athletes in the French team, as well as all the youngsters in our athletics clubs. Everyone is proud of him. Renaud knew what it took to make some daring choices. The pairing he has formed with Philippe d’Encausse has proven its effectiveness. Together they are the most ambitious thing French pole vaulting has produced to date.

I would also say that, with the passion and dream he has nurtured since his most innocent childhood days, Renaud’s mental strength, coupled with his great professionalism, is his primary strength. He’s an extraordinary champion with some extraordinary results! Always the first to cheer on his mates in the French team, today he has their unanimous backing for his great achievement and the same support is echoed by all France’s athletes.”

Finally, Bernard Amsalem also pays tribute to “the work of the French Technical Training Centre, with Ghani Yalouz who, since 2009, has known how to provide the best possible support to France’s top athletes. The support network and the shared trust that enable France’s strong Olympic hopefuls to truly express this talent is a roaring success. The Federation is at the service of its athletes, in the bad times and the good. We must savour this moment and thank Renaud for all the joy he has given us with this fantastic record!”

Adrian Verdugo
Fédération Française d'Athlétisme

adrian.verdugo@athle.fr
+33 (0)1 53 80 70 68
+33 (0)6 40 71 01 43