The inspiring journey of Martinican athlete Dimitri Bascou to becoming French and European champion in 110m hurdles and bronze medalist at world championships and Olympics.

When Dimitri Bascou sets foot in the Dominique Duvauchelle stadium in Créteil (Val-de-Marne), he is seized with a feeling of nostalgia. Since leaving US Créteil Athletics in 2018, he has never returned here. He glances at the white lines that mark the running tracks forming a circle around the soccer field. This is where he used to run. To jump the hurdles. “It does something to mehe admits. It’s a mass of incredible memories.”

The 1st in Créteil-Dimitri Bascou

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©Overseas The 1st

Born in Schoelcher, Martinique, in 1987, Dimitri made his first strides at the Aiglon du Lamentin club, on his island. He then flew to France where he joined the renowned National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (INSEP). For eight years, he never stopped improving. He runs faster and faster. Pass the obstacles. In 2005, during his first U20 competition in 110 meters hurdles (in Germany), the young athlete finished his race in 14 seconds and 35 hundredths. In 2013, he covered the same distance in 13’51. A marked improvement.

Before landing in Créteil in 2014, Dimitri Bascou was already triple French champion in the 110m hurdles (in 2009, 2010 and 2011) and once French champion in the 60m indoor hurdles (in 2011). But the exploits only lasted a short time. And the young athlete, tormented, questions himself. “The pre-Créteil period was quite complicated. Each year, I managed to have constant progress. But at some point, I plateaued”he says.

In his period of doubt, the Martiniquais observes what his peers are doing. In the Val-de-Marne, he sees that hurdlers like him win prestigious titles. This is the case of Reunion Islander Cindy Billaud, who is European vice-champion in the 110 meter hurdles and French champion from 2013 to 2016. But also Thomas Martinot-Lagarde, 2013 French champion in the 110 meter hurdles. Their common point? They are both members of the US Créteil Athlétisme club. “I have [donc] made contact with the coach of Créteil, Giscard Samba”explains Dimitri.

From 2014 to 2018, the hurdler trained in the capital of Val-de-Marne, at the Duvauchelle stadium. “Unlike INSEP, the training was more mentally oriented” with Coach Samba.

It was a bit rough. For example, when we were doing a training session, we had to go from point A to point B. We weren’t supposed to stop before, no matter what was happening. We had to go all the way.

Dimitri Bascou, athletics champion

“Even if it was difficult, I accepted the situation and I continued to go there”, recognizes Dimitri Bascou. His most difficult memory in this Duvauchelle stadium was during his first year: “On my first resistance sessions, I had had a cramp attackremembers the Martinican. But when you started something, you had to go all the way. The coach told me: ‘Cramp attack or not, you’ll have to go back!’.”

This quasi-military preparation, hard but effective, puts him in good condition for the athletics competitions of 2016. That year, championships after championships, Dimitri Bascou runs, jumps and dominates. He won bronze at the Indoor Worlds in Portland in March (60m hurdles). Gold at the French championships in Angers in June (110m hurdles). Gold at the European Championships in Amsterdam in July (110m hurdles). And finally, bronze at the Rio Olympics in August (110m hurdles again). The consecration.

However, the triumph only lasts for a time. After Rio, “I had periods of slump. I had little problems.” Once again, the Martiniquais doubts and questions himself. He lifts his foot and steps aside for a while.

In addition, in 2018, a year after the launch of the #MeToo movement, the Créteil club was shaken by a case involving coach Giscard Samba. He is accused of rape by athletes. Indebted to his trainer and convinced of his innocence, Dimitri Bascou supports him. The investigation will be dismissed in 2019, the offense being insufficiently characterized. But this case does not encourage Dimitri to get back into the obstacle course. He moves away from his coach, from Créteil. The arrival of Covid-19 in 2020 does not help matters. Until last year.

I was not sure if I would continue athletics. I took over without really wanting it for the interclubs last year. Finally, I felt that I had good feelings. It may be the fact of resuming without the fuss, without a specific objective. It freed me up a bit.

Dimitri Bascou, former licensee at US Créteil Athletics

So he resumed training. But alone, at home, in Noisy-le-Grand. The Martinican hurdler has started competitions again and is actively preparing for the Budapest Worlds, which will take place in August. And, of course, for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

As May 10 approaches, the date of the commemoration of the abolition of slavery in France, Outre-mer La 1ère takes you to Val-de-Marne, which has one of the largest West Indian-Guyanese communities in France. Food-truck of bokits, carnival group, writer… Discover those who give an overseas air to Créteil by clicking on this link.