The pole vaulter cleared a 4.50m bar on her third attempt on July 15, allowing her to win the title of European U23 champion. The first of his young career.
Very recently champion of France hope, the Bordelaise has achieved a double blow. On July 15, Marie-Julie Bonnin won the European U23 title in Espoo (Finland) with a jump of 4.50 m. Not without fear.
“I was in warrior mode”
The competition could however have ended very quickly for the Bordelaise. From the qualifying session on July 13, the tricolor was in difficulty to erase 4.20 m. In the grand finale, bis repetita. Marie-Julie Bonnin worked on the bar at 4.30 m, only passing it on the last try. Then, the pole vaulter unrolled, jumping 4.40 on the first try, then 4.45 on the second. This bar already ensured him a medal around his neck. But there is no question for the Bordeaux Athlé licensee to stick to silver, as in 2019 when she finished runner-up European junior champion. “I said to myself: I’m not leaving here second, I’m fed up”, she said at the microphone of the French Athletics Federation. In a duel against the Belgian Elien Vekemans, the Girondine won with a bar crossed at 4.50 m after two failures. The French can excite: she is European champion hope! This is his first career title, after winning that of France in the hopes category still, on July 1st.
Despite failed personal best attempts at 4.62m, Marie-Julie Bonnin exploded with joy at the end of the competition. “Today I was in warrior mode, I fought on all my tests. I’m so happy, it gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season. It feels so good to be European champion, I needed it”, she rejoiced after her jumps. The other French women entered, Léa Mauberret and Élise Russis, finished sixth and twelfth respectively.
???? CHAMPION OF EUROPE U23!
???????? Marie-Julie Bonnin crosses 4.50 m on her third attempt and wins the pole vault competition! What emotion !
???? Second gold medal and sixth award for the French team at #Espoo2023 !
???? @allathleticstv / @EuroAthletics pic.twitter.com/u1YVPpxBVv
– FFAthlétisme (@FFAthlétisme) July 15, 2023
