Cali will also host Regis Thibert at the U20 World Championships

DIARY OF AN ATHLETE

Written by Trackandmemes, on July 7, 2022

My name is Régis Thibert, I'm 18 years old and I'm in the club of Herve, a small and nice village in Wallonia, Belgium. I am a 800m and 1500m runner.

Before the starting light went off, did you know in advance that you would be walking the track in exchange for this qualification?

I had a lot of doubts. I knew it was my goal, but I was afraid because my last 1500m was not good due to an illness.

What gave me confidence was the 800m run two weeks earlier. I think that without it, I would have had a hard time telling myself that this was my goal, but before the race I wanted this track to bring me the minimums!

Dans ton dernier post, tu dis de ton coach  « je pense qu’il croyait plus en moi que je ne croyais en moi ». Est-ce que ta performance en 3’45’’34 reflète uniquement tes heures de travail sur la piste  ?

I think that's a big part of my preparation, the training... But there's a big mental part too. A lot of people are better than you physically, but have less mental capacity, and that's when you become stronger than your opponents. The mental part is very important, and in the last lap, if I hadn't had the ability to suffer and to tell myself that I mustn't give up, I would have done 3'50'' and I wouldn't be answering these questions today.

During your race, did you still believe it, before seeing the time?

Yes, I believed in it from the beginning to the end, because if I didn't believe in it anymore, it was over. It is this belief that pushes you to go beyond. If you lose the course, your race is over. A goal stays in your head from start to finish, even when your body tells you to give up and lay down on your side haha.

At the World Championship in Cali, what are you aiming for?

I hope for a final, but above all I hope to gain as much experience as possible. I'm also trying for the 800m minima this Saturday so I can do both there, because the schedule is going well. So I would say... A final on 1500m, and a semi-final on 800m if I make the minimums on Saturday. But above all to enjoy a maximum, it's a dream come true.

If you could give a message to those who still have to believe before they get what you got today, what would it be?

First of all, I would say don't miss any training, even when it's hard. Even when you don't feel like it and you feel lazy. You have to go, you know why you are doing it.

And you must always believe, even when it's hard. There are plenty of failures in athletics. But the greatest strength is to get up and do better, to surprise everyone. I would say that you have to have rage and always believe!

Any last words?

Revasiveness

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