His word was expected after his abandonment in San Diego (United States), last week, in his attempt to achieve the minimums for the Olympic Games. While he has returned to training, Kevin Mayer is rather optimistic four months before the Paris Olympics, even if he still does not have the precious sesame in his pocket.
The 32-year-old athlete is still running after the minimums set at 8,460 points, yet largely within his ropes (he has a personal best of 9,126 points, the world record achieved in Talence in 2018). “It’s inconceivable not to be in Paris. Afterwards, it can happen that I am not there, but it has not happened to me not to qualify for years and years, declares the person concerned to Eurosport. I always had this pressure of wondering if I would be able to qualify. I'm going to doubt until the moment I get on the track and express myself. »
In San Diego, he had to retire due to a contracture point in the adductor magnus of his right thigh. “Clearly, what I want is not for it to fart! It’s not having a debt for 2 months, he insists. It went to the 100m, it went to the length, it went to the weight, it didn't hold up to the height... I know my body pretty well in that regard and I know how to stop when it's necessary to avoid not create debt for the Olympics. »
“I give myself time for my body”
He adds. “This year, it’s better to start five and finish one the right way without injury than to finish one with Olympic debt. So clearly, I will take the time it takes and I will do what it takes to make sure everything goes well in the coming months. »
The double world champion (2017 and 2022) could make his return to Europe to achieve the Olympic minimums in the traditional decathlon in Götzis, Austria, on May 18 or in Brescia, Italy, in Ratlingen, Germany, or in Arona, in Spain, all World Athletics logos and scheduled between the end of April and the end of May.
“I have until the end of June to qualify. I know we need a decathlon. I'm rather very reliable technically so I'm not very afraid of 0 in decathlon, explains Mayer. I give myself time for my body. I know that March-April is always a complicated time for my body. There are all the allergies that come out and I am very sensitive to that. So clearly, I'm not giving a date. As soon as I feel good, I'm going to do a decathlon. »