“You broke the world record but you are not an Olympic champion. What do you feel ?
There is a lot to digest. I cried a little. I’m really happy to be a part of history like this. We showed in which direction this race could go. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful … (he recovers). It is the most beautiful race in the history of the Olympic Games. I don’t think Usain Bolt’s 9”58 surpass that (time taken in fact at the Worlds in Berlin in 2009). Three guys broke the world record, what (in fact, the Brazilian Alison Dos Santos, in 46”72, finished 2 hundredths off the old record of 46”70). 45”94, man. I am 46’17 and I lose. It’s like that.
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Did you imagine such a fast race?
I thought we would have to run under 46.5s to win. But I entered the race with one idea: to win. I made a few mistakes. I gave everything to come back, but it was not enough. At the fourth hurdle, I said to myself: “I’m so close!” I had to take a few steps to stay on thirteen strides. That’s what cost me so much. In such a race, you can’t make these kinds of mistakes. It costs so much … We will have to digest. There are a lot of things I could have done differently. But right now, how could I know? I had never run so fast. It is a question of experience.
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“I said it two, three years ago: someone will run under 46 seconds. It was only a matter of time ”
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But run in 46”17 and lose?
If you told me I was going to run 46”1 and lose anyway, I probably would have hit you and said to cross. I’m happy to be part of the story. 2022, Oregon, at home, in my backyard (the World Championships in Eugene), then Paris in 2024. I can’t wait.
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Did the 46 second bar seem achievable to you?
I said it two, three years ago: someone will run under 46 seconds. It was only a matter of time. Karsten did it today. This kid is amazing. You can’t be mad at this. As a competitor it hurts a lot, but that’s the nature of the sport. There are a lot of things that people don’t see. I couldn’t sleep last night. You already want to be there, you want the race to be on. Ten million emotions run through you in the call room. We’re all cool with each other, but we don’t talk to each other at the time. It’s hard !
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What mistakes?
I hit the fourth hurdle so I didn’t run properly towards the fifth. On the turn, I said to myself, “I’ll go get him.” I get closer, I get closer, I see that the gap is narrowing and … But it has not happened. This is the second time that this has happened to me after the final in Zurich. I hope it doesn’t happen a third time. We talk a lot with Karsten. Before the race today (mardi), he said to me: “let’s go and have fun.” I think that’s exactly what we did. We put on a great show for everyone. I can’t be angry. I am quite happy.
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Some people mention the new peaks to explain such times. What’s your opinion ?
What matters is who the athletes are. People say it’s the track or the shoes … I would always run fast if I wore other shoes! It doesn’t really matter. The shoes perform well, yeah, I don’t dispute that, and it’s nice to have a good track, but nobody in history can go out on the track and do what we just did. No one. I don’t care who you are. You can be Kevin Young, Edwin Moses. With all due respect to them, they couldn’t have done what we did.
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“All the athletes in this race should be paid… Big bucks! To all Diamond League directors: open your checkbooks from now on »
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Many are already saying this is the best race in history. What do you think ?
I agree 100%. All the athletes in this race should be paid … Big bucks! To all Diamond League directors: open your checkbooks from now on. Even Usain Bolt’s 9”58 do not compete with this race. And it’s only going to get better next year and the next.
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Do you think your rivalry with Karsten Warholm is driving the lap times?
I think yes. I showed that I could be in the game from the start. It doesn’t matter if I start slow and finish fast or start fast and finish fast: I started fast and finished fast, but I didn’t win. Because of mistakes. This race does not forgive anything. This sport does not forgive anything. Whoever you are, whatever your ordeal, if you don’t perform when you have to, you’re going to lose. You never know when the opportunity will present itself. I can’t wait to see what happens next. “
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