Kevin Mayer had cast doubt earlier this week on his participation in the decathlon of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Finally, he had decided to line up in order to defend his title acquired in Eugene in 2022, Friday and Saturday in Hungary, without knowing if he would be physically fit to go after the ten events.
The verdict fell on Friday and his body recalled the bad memory of the double world champion, also crowned in London, in 2017. Kevin Mayer gave up after the long jump, the second event of the decathlon. His start to the day had hardly been reassuring with a time of 10′’79, below his personal best (10′’50). But it was above all at the length that he seemed to be in pain, grimacing after each jump, and only achieving 7.25 m.
On Tuesday, the Olympic vice-champion announced that he was suffering from a left Achilles tendon injury. “A fortnight ago, on a 400m training session, in the bend, I felt my Achilles tendon hurt, and when cold it was a disaster,” he said.
“I spent 15 very difficult days, I knew it would be very complicated but I did not give up, he said this Friday at the microphone of France 2. I know that at any time the pain can become superfluous . I could have gone further but I wouldn’t have finished the decathlon and I could have ended up with a more serious injury like in Doha. I was inhibited, I didn’t perform well when I was in good shape. We have to admit defeat and set off again for the Paris Games next year. »
The French team loses its savior
In Doha, overwhelmed by suffering, Kevin Mayer had given up during the pole vault competition and had taken a long time to recover. One year before the Paris Olympics, there was no question of taking risks. If he had done everything for two weeks to recover, he therefore preferred to give up and give up a third planetary title.
A decision that does not help the affairs of the French athletics team, which, two days from the end of the competition, has still not won a single medal. She had only obtained one at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and one at the Eugene Worlds last year. Each time, it was Kevin Mayer who saved the furniture. This will not be the case this time.
