Written by Trackandmemes, February 28, 2025
Semi-finalist at last summer's U18 European Championships, where he came 11th, Lucas Cordonnier is the new nugget not to be missed.
These last championships were held in Slovakia, from July 18 to 21, 2024.
Among the six heats announced, Lucas was seen in the fifth heat, where he performed in 54 seconds and 6 hundredths over 400 metres hurdles.
But he wasn't content with just showing up, as he broke his semi-final record with a new performance of 52 seconds and 62 hundredths, placing him 11th among the semi-finalists.
Your star began to shine brightly last summer, but how did you get started?
I started athletics at the age of eight. I did well in the cross-country races organized by my school. I quickly got hooked. I loved doing all the events except the throws.
I was pretty good, but nothing suggested that something as big as a European qualification to see the light of day so soon. It was during my specialization in the hurdles, in the cadet category, that my coach and I noticed that I could do great things.
In my first year at school, I finally made a name for myself in the 400-meter hurdles, becoming the third Belgian in the same discipline.
It pushed me to approach my training sessions more seriously and with more discipline.
New coach, new approach
I trained for five years with Cédric Rans. He gave me all the technical knowledge I needed for hurdling, and made me want to approach my sport with objectives other than just having fun. He's the one who brought me this sporting maturity.
I decided to change coach last year, in school category 2, by joining Yannick Bonhomme. It worked well for me, because the sessions suited me perfectly. I had to give more in terms of intensity, especially during lactic resistance sessions.
In terms of team spirit, I have a very good training group that pushes me to the top, especially when I'm in good company of Cyril Daucha, à talented Belgian decathlete.
If I had to define what my change of coach has given me, I'd say that training with Yannick has taught me to be more independent, because Cédric and I used to do everything together.
Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. But I must admit that at first, with Yannick, I felt lost in this independence, but I finally got used to it!
So I started the 2023-2024 season with a lot of change, but all in confidence. We haven't set ourselves any targets in indoor, but I did set some personal bests.
I must admit that I had the U18 European Championships in mind, but in a rather vague way, as I didn't yet know my capabilities. We didn't even talk about it with my coach, because he didn't yet know my potential in the 400m hurdles.
I started the outdoor season with the sole aim of setting a personal record in my discipline. And that's when everything changed, because I got a stopwatch out of my legs that was just twenty hundredths of the European minima, settled at 53 seconds and 53 hundredths (Belgian minima) in the 400m hurdles. The universal minimum was set at 56 seconds and 20 hundredths.
European qualification
After several training sessions, I was ready for my second race in competition, but due to a technical fault, I didn't qualify.
I finally qualified for the European championships in my third competition in the international meeting of Nivelles, where I raced in 52 seconds and 89 hundredths. I knew that qualification was possible, but falling so far short of the minima motivated us to set a real objective for these championships.
My championships
My relationship with my coach was optimal, the physical preparation was in my legs, European qualification was in my pocket and the motivation was there... All that remained was to show what I was capable of.
I knew that the first lap would go without a hitch. In the series, I managed my race very well, although I was obviously in reserve, because I really wanted to put in a strong performance in the final.
I arrived at the semi-final motivated, but perhaps a little too much so, as I started fast, which cost me qualification for the final by just ten hundredths. I had decided to take risks, but my adventure finally came to an end with a fine race and a new personal best time of 52 seconds and 62 hundredths, and 11th place in Europe.
I have no regrets, because these championships have brought me a lot of positive things. It motivated me to work hard and reach the top level.
How did you deal with stress at such a young age?
I generally manage my stress well. I know where to put it so that it turns into motivation. I'm not the type to ask myself a lot of questions or to be afraid, but I do know that hurdling requires more attention than flat sprinting, because there's less room for error.
Right now, in terms of stress, the Belgian championships have no effect on me. And yet, in the cadet category, I would surely have reacted differently.
Over time, I became aware of certain things, such as the fact that my opponent's size or muscle mass didn't necessarily mean that he was stronger than me. Being aware of these things keeps me focused on myself. Mentally, I tell myself that my small size might surprise my opponent.
Were you able to remain yourself, or did you feel you had to appear more serious than you are on a day-to-day basis?
I stayed serious from the moment I qualified for Europe, at the Nivelles meeting. So, from May to July, I paid attention to my diet, my sleep...
And once I got to Slovakia, I knew I was ready, so I just enjoyed the moment, relaxing... The aim was to be able to keep a memorable souvenir.
Conversely, if I had been too serious, or had set the bar too high, I might have been more demanding of myself, and the results, as well as the memories, might have been negative.
The rest of my season
After the Europeans, there was only one thing left to do: the Belgian championships.
I arrived in top form, and took first place, giving me the title of Belgian champion to end the season on a high.
Now that we know a little more about your athletic background, what about your schooling?
I'm in the sixth form of secondary school at Welkenraedt, studying social studies and psychology.
I don't yet know what I want to do when I grow up, but athletics will certainly be a big part of my life. I plan to make it my top priority.
Has your specialization in psychology had a positive effect on the way you approach your sports project?
I've always been interested in psychology. I actually think it has a positive impact on the way I approach my sport, because I learn a lot about mental load and other important notions in the sporting field.
Do you feel any different from last season? Or is it the same Lucas who'll be taking to the track this summer?
I think I've changed, because I've worked a lot on myself, especially my self-confidence and the way I perceive my opponent. I'm more assertive and much less fearful of my rivals.
And even in terms of my faith, I now fully embrace it without feeling any embarrassment.
What are your future goals?
I'm now in the first-year junior category.
The season got off to a good start this winter, and I'm hoping to qualify for the European U20 championships this summer, which will take place in Finland from August 7 to 10, 2025.
BONUS question: what do you think of Mimoun Abdoul Wahab, the Belgian 400m hurdles specialist with a record time of 49 seconds and 81 hundredths?
I respect him, he's very admirable!
He shows good self-confidence with a very good mindset.
I've never really talked to him, but he makes me want to fight to reach his level. I hope one day to be in a duel with him to see what it would be like for two people who have worked on their racing spirit together.
It would be a good opponent where the competition could be healthy. What's more, our respective clubs aren't that far away!
Mimoun's reply...
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