The medals, the injury, then finally the end of the tunnel? Solid in the 400m semi – final on Wednesday in Eugene ( Oregon ), South African Wayde Van Niekerk will compete for the first time in five years… At the height of his glory, the 2017 World Championships in London had consecrated the South African in an extraordinary atmosphere with a second world title in the 400m and a silver medal in the 200m, a year after his exploit at the Olympic Games in Rio with the gold and the world record (43 sec 03), which still stands.

While world athletics thought it was holding its new star at the twilight of Usain Bolt’s career, the ambitions of the phenomenon had been cut short at the same time as the cruciate ligaments of his right knee during a game of rugby in October 2017.

Returning to competition without shining only in 2020, Van Niekerk had had an encouraging start to the 2021 season before being eliminated in the semi -finals of the last Olympic Games in Tokyo last summer.

During the season, he joined the prestigious group of the American Lance Brauman in Florida, which notably includes the sprinter Noah Lyles or the Bahamian Olympic champion in the 400m Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

Without panicking the clock, he finished second in his semi – final on Wednesday (44 sec 75), after a very fast start, enough to qualify for the final on Friday.

While he had only competed in one 400m this year before the Worlds.

“It’s a challenge to compete in the 400m without having competed in as many races as I would have liked this season.But I managed to get out of it in order to remain comfortable for a good part of the race “, he appreciated.

“Now I have to recover and prepare for the final .I’m learning with every race .I listen to my body.I had three difficult years, now I just want to do my best.I need to take each step if I want to be able to tickle my record.”

With the 5th time of the entries, he will have a lot to do in particular against the American Michael Norman, best time in the half (44.30), and against the Grenadian Kirani James, triple Olympic medalist on the lap.

The reigning Olympic champion, the Bahamian Steven Gardiner, is absent due to an injury.

Finot ‘s dive, Robert’s “cat”

Expected in the final of the 3,000 m steeplechase after her series victory, the Frenchwoman Alice Finot suffered the law of the fastest runners from the start of a race that started at full speed.

Frenchwoman Alice Finot fell in the 3,000m steeplechase final of the World Athletics Championships on July 20, 2022 in Eugene ( Oregon ).

Andrej ISAKOVIC AFP

Quickly taken down, the Franc-Comtoise exiled in Spain managed her seven and a half laps with obstacles to finish strong.

But an error cost him a spectacular sun followed by an unwanted dip in the last river, before crossing the line in 10th place in 9 min 21 sec 40, a few seconds from his French record established in the series (9 :14.34).

“It was a crazy race .It started very strong, I expected it even if I hoped it was tactical, it would have given me a chance.It was not pleasant because I found on my own.

I make a big effort in the 600 meters, and on the last river, I try to attack, my foot slips, I hit the shin, I make a sun”, she detailed in the mixed zone , wet hair and makeup running down her cheek.

The Kazakh Norah Jeruto won the title in 8 min 53 sec 02, the 3rd fastest time in history, ahead of the Ethiopians Werkuha Getachew and Mekides Abebe.

The Blues managed two out of two in the series of the 800m men, with the qualifications for the semi -finals of the Olympic finalist Gabriel Tual and the Toulousain Benjamin Robert, drafted in extremis at the time thanks to the disqualification of a competitor.

Frenchman Benjamin Robert was drafted in extremis in the 800m series, at the World Athletics Championships , on July 20, 2022 in Eugene ( Oregon ).

Jewel SAMAD AFP

“It’s + pussy +”, he blurted out, after appearing for the first time in the mixed zone, livid, thinking he was eliminated.

“I was not good and we will have to show a different state of mind tomorrow (Thursday).We will have to take advantage of this chance.”

© 2022 AFP

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