Written by Trackandmemes, March 13, 2022
21.86 at the Belgian U23 Championship. You break the 22 seconds barrier! Tell us how does this new performance taste?
Honestly, I have rarely experienced this kind of emotion. When I saw the time on the clock, I couldn't even hold back my scream! This is not something I normally do. It's been a while now since I started sprinting; it must be six or seven years, and I never thought I would do a time like that. I've always trained with some of the beasts in training, who I admire immensely, and it seemed utopian that one day I would be able to do the same times as them. Finally, being surrounded by these people is what boosts me every day. And I owe them a lot. It is also thanks to them that I can run in 21.86.
You, surprised? But did your coach plan it? Were you training to do such a performance?
I ran a reasonable time of 22.21 last week at the University Championships. The race was far from perfect, but I was already very happy with this result. By analyzing the race and my feelings, my coach Arnaud Destatte and I knew that we could do better, but we didn't know how much. Obviously, we were dreaming of a 21.99. But I didn't dare to think about it too much, even if I knew that I potentially had the legs to do it, thanks to my last sensations in training. To do 21.86 indoors, when you come out of a very good outdoor season in 22.30, is something I would never have imagined. We told ourselves that this year we could clearly aim for 21 seconds, but we were talking about it for this outdoor season! And we really trained hard to make sure that everything went as well as possible for this goal.
You explode at the end of the season, but can we say that everything went exactly as you planned during the whole season ?
Oh, no! Not exactly as planned! I had two small contractures in my left ischio, one after the other. It handicapped me for the season. So no. Everything didn't go as planned. But in reality, it was not mainly due to the trainings, because I recovered quite quickly, but mainly because of the competitions which were not numerous this year. Because of that, I could only do three competitions, including two 200m. But with the coach, we adapted well and we managed to optimize all that, despite the two small glitches that occurred during the season. So in fact, I didn't explode at the end of the season, because the end of the season was the beginning of my season!
Any performance plans for the coming season?
We will continue to work as we do, with the coach and especially with the group. It's only the beginning, and I still have a lot of work to do. To progress, again and again, that's all I ask. We've been able to install some nice, more optimal routines, but we still have a long way to go, and that's all the more motivating.
But in the end, who are you?
I am ultra invested, a little bit psychorigid on my routines, extremely motivated to work very hard, and in a certain research of what is optimal for my discipline. I like the phrase "Leave No Stone Unturned", it defines my thought system.
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