Christophe Lemaitre "White Lightning" 9.92 and 19.80! -- Part Two

mastermulti

Master
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Messages
2,241
Location
Sydney Australia
I agree about Guliyev - his 2015 19.88 PB was set in a League meet 3 weeks after he'd finished the 200 final a tenth down on time to his wonderful 20.01 heat time for a 6th place.
He's reached his goal this year, has money in the bank to run this upcoming meet and next year's invitations will flow nicely regardless of how he goes here. Nothing to prove and only needs to perform reasonably
 

mastermulti

Master
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Messages
2,241
Location
Sydney Australia
"In April 2011, the IAAF enacted a transfer delay in line with its international rules, banning Guliyev from representing any country other than Azerbaijan until April 2014.The runner argued that the training and financial support that he received in Turkey was significant, and that the people, language and culture were very similar between the two countries, though his home federation remained open to him representing Azerbaijan internationally again. Following negotiations with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Youth and Sports, Guliyev confirmed his original decision not to compete for Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov explained this by Guliyev's putting forward too unreasonable financial demands for a young athlete and expressed doubt that Guliyev's representation of Turkey in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games would be successful."

I love seeing the pompous taken down a peg! That minister can go eat humble pie - Ramil Guliyev DID represent Turkey 4 years further on and won the World 200 metre championship and, no doubt, huge appearance fees for all European athletic meets
 

white lightning

Hall of Famer
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
20,684
"he is rested alot more than the other sprinters."

Why did you say that ?

Due to injuries he has had a very short summer with alot less races than he would normally participate
in. I think since he is healthy now and semi rested he will put down a time around 20.10

Just my hope but we shall see in a few more days. Good luck to Christophe and the rest of the sprinters.
 

Larrybird

Newbie
Joined
Aug 18, 2017
Messages
8
I don't know why we keep talking about Chris lemartie He hasn't improved his time in three plus yrs. to me he is done. Let's move on to the next great white sprinter who is committed to the sport. Let's not live in the past anymore
 

white lightning

Hall of Famer
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
20,684
I think I said the same thing a few years ago......


Has he peaked, regressed? Yes possibly but don't forget he was the first white sprinter to go sub 10! Lemaitre is 1 of only 3 white sprinters to belong in the sub 10 & sub 20 club. (He was the first).

He has won a couple of medals at the highest level in the world champs & olympics. We hadn't seen
this in a 100/200 guy in at least 3 to 4 decades! Lemaitre has earned not only my respect but track
fans around the worlds respect. Let's not be too hard on him.

Am I a little let down that he never went faster? Yes but his career isn't over yet. Injuries have been his biggest
problem other than the same coach and not trying something different. Regardless he is a legend. Always
has been and will be one years from now. He was and always will be the first to break the myth that whites
can't go sub 10. It showed to everyone that it is more of a mental barrier than a physical one. It has really
helped our guys worldwide to have belief that they can compete. I salute Christophe for all he has done and
my hope is that he isn't done yet. Lemaitre should still have several more years of sprinting at only 27 years
of age. Let's stay behind him and hope for bigger & better things next summer!
 
Last edited:

mastermulti

Master
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Messages
2,241
Location
Sydney Australia
Has he peaked, regressed? Yes possibly but don't forget he was the first white sprinter to go sub 10! Lemaitre is 1 of only 3 white sprinters to belong in the sub 10 & sub 20 club. (He was the first).

He has won a couple of medals at the highest level in the world champs & olympics. We hadn't seen
this in a 100/200 guy in at least 3 to 4 decades! Lemaitre has earned not only my respect but track
fans around the worlds respect. Let's not be too hard on him.

I'm I a little let down he never went faster? Yes but his career isn't over yet. Injuries have been his biggest
problem other than the same coach and not trying something different. Regardless he is a legend. Always
has been and will be one years from now. He was and always will be the first to break the myth that whites
can't go sub 10. It showed to everyone that it is more of a mental barrier than a physical one. It has really
helped our guys worldwide to have belief that they can compete. I salute Christophe for all he has done and
my hope is that he isn't done yet. Lemaitre should still have several more years of sprinting at only 27 years
of age. Let's stay behind him and hope for bigger & better things next summer!

would he have the fire left inside? As you say, a bronze in both Worlds AND Olympics is spectacular if we put things into perspective. How any of us would love to show those medals to our grandchildren.
There's a new hungry generation always coming along all the time. I expect nothing more of Christophe, no more sub 10s or sub 20s, but overall I'm not disappointed at all. He's been great and at last Guliyev has followed him along.
Been a great 8 years for me since I first saw those two "killer" 19 year olds
 
Last edited:

white lightning

Hall of Famer
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
20,684
Athletics+Olympics+Day+14+q9kLBAXSO4ux.jpg
 

Madara

Guru
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Messages
223
Location
Lyon (France)
For RCSMan you are a troll if you said bad things about Lemaitre.

Lemaitre did 20.52 in Birmingham i was thinking he was better than London but ... 10.62-9.90 in Line 8 just disgusting. Weather are better semi final of WC but no, very bad...
For him to do a good race it's only in Big championship, and even, once every 4 years ...
 

Van_Slyke_CF

Mentor
Joined
Oct 11, 2007
Messages
1,565
Location
West Virginia
I'm having a discussion elsewhere about Lemaitre and I'm trying to confirm how many times he's run a sub 10 100m. I'm sure of at least two, but I think it might be three. Thanks!
 

sprintstar

Mentor
Joined
Jun 3, 2016
Messages
1,885
Location
Canada
thanks for the list. It is interesting that if you threw out all the PED user's times(95%) Lemaitre would be right up there near the top.
 

sprintstar

Mentor
Joined
Jun 3, 2016
Messages
1,885
Location
Canada
2-Guliyev and Lemaitre. Gemili has gone under 10 but he is not fully white he is middle eastern mostly, although scientists consider Middle Eastern as Caucasian
 
Top