It is in Brisbane, Australia, on December 16 and 17, that Kevin Mayer will attempt to achieve the minimum in the decathlon (8,460 points), and thus ensure his qualification for the Paris Olympic Games. He will fly out on November 25 to manage the time difference. “I had an idea and I wanted the rehabilitation of my Achilles tendon to start as soon as possible, I did that thoroughly and it worked really well,” he explains, all smiles. After a month, the pain was superficial, today it is non-existent. »
On August 25, during the World Championships in Budapest, the decathlete had to give up after the 2nd event, due to an Achilles tendon injury, which occurred before the competition. An abandonment which, due to lack of a brand, forces him to go through a new decathlon box to validate his participation in the Olympics. After a break, Kevin Mayer returned to training. “There are events where things go really well, others where I have to take it more slowly so as not to take the risk of being in pain. This is particularly the case in sprinting. »
If he has ticked the Brisbane box in his calendar, he reserves the possibility of canceling his presence, in “case of slight tension”. “I would then do an internship in Australia and a decathlon later,” he specifies (Editor’s note: just in case, he notably pointed out the decathlon in San Diego, in April 2024). The minimums are not difficult in themselves, but a decathlon requires a lot of commitment. The sooner I do it, the more I can prepare for the Olympics. Between 2012 where I achieved the minimums 3 weeks before and Tokyo where I did them 6 months later, I much preferred 2021. It is not a necessity to achieve the minimums early, but it is more comfortable. »
By mid-December, the Frenchman will not have reached his peak form. He estimates that to cross the 8,460 point mark he will need to be at “83%” of his potential. In the process, he could possibly participate in the World Indoor Championships, “if I feel that I am in the best of my form, but if there is the slightest doubt, it will be no. »
