Two months before the Paris Olympic Games, Samba-Mayela made her mark by dominating the 100m hurdles at the “Prefontaine classic” in Eugene (United States). She beat the Puerto Rican Olympic champion and vice-world champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12”54), the American Tonea Marshall (12”55) and the Bahamian Devynne Charlton, world champion and world record holder in the 60 m indoor hurdles since this winter.
A successful performance despite a cool temperature (around 14 degrees) and a slightly unfavorable wind, in a race which was not part of the Diamond League program.
“It’s good to get used to winning”
“The Olympic Games remain the objective, in this type of race, against these girls, it’s good to get used to winning, to repeat what I learn in training, the same movements, to arrive at the Games by being ready to go a step further, and be ready to break records,” she commented, all smiles, in the mixed zone.
“Confidence is good, not great yet, I don’t think I’m at peak form yet. But I feel great, I had very good feelings today,” she added before heading to Rome for the European Championships (June 7-12).
The 23-year-old Frenchwoman, world champion in the 60m indoor hurdles in 2022, continues her crazy season, having already beaten the French record twice (12”55 in China at the end of April then 12”52 in Florida in early May).
Her progress and consistency at the highest level have impressed since she joined Irish coach John Coghlan in Florida at the end of 2023, who also looks after Camacho-Quinn, from Insep and Teddy Tamgho’s group.
“Experiencing a new environment is refreshing, it’s also discovering myself differently. In this environment, I am among the elite, I train with the reigning Olympic champion, it gets me used to excellence, to their way of doing things. Everything has been changed technically, even mentally I feel much fresher, I don’t know how to explain it, I’m growing with my environment, that’s how I express myself on the track, I’m happy to be there. »
