Christophe Lemaitre "White Lightning" 9.92 and 19.80!

Christophe had a better reaction time than Gatlin (0.191 vs 0.194), but after 10m Christophe was 1m behind Gatlin.
Very Positive is the fact that Christophe lost nothing between 10-60m to Gatlin.
And his last 10m were incredible.

Sorry, but im not so optimistic like most people here.
Lemaitre had very good race but we should analyze.
-His 9.98 is with +2.9 wind, it is a lot of wind.
Around 10.06 or 10.08 with normal wind or 10.02 with maximu legal wind 2.0(his record is 9.92 with 2.0 wind)
-Gatlin was tired after a lot of races this season and only 3 days after hard race in Rome.
So the final metres of Lemaitre were very good, but like always usually, while Gatlin had bad last metres.

In my opinion Lemaitre has in his legs sub10 this season, but no PB.
Of course if he has "luck" and gets good race with good start, good reaction time and 2.0 wind is possible, but in normal conditions i dont see it.

His future is in 200m.
He has improve his horrible start, probably he NEVER will be good starter, but he should to try to be a normal starter, for to be sub10 usually and wonderful times in 200m.

I dont see improvement in Lemaitre in this moment in his start(bad yet),first 30 metres(bad yet) or his final metres(very good like always).
I would love to tell another things, but it is the reality

Oh, Zell, don't be such a grump. It was a great day! You've got to change your analysis to suit the results. Last year, for example, I was miserable and negative over the start to Christophe's season--and proven right to be so. This year, I've felt much better, especially after the Manchester 150. As for the Rabat race? Magnifique!

Look--whatever the wind was, it was blowing the same for every runner, including Gatlin and Collins. Throw out the time, throw out the stop watch, and look at who Christophe beat.

Christophe is back to being the fastest clean runner in the world right now. Even Bolt isn't going below 10 currently, as he is staying off the good stuff until the championships are closer. And I believe right now, while Bolt is unjuiced and vulnerable, LeMaitre could take him. Blake, too. Did anyone just see Blake labor to a 20.6 200 the other day? It almost killed him to produce a result nowhere near as good as LeMaitre ran with a pulled abductor muscle and an intentionally slow start. That's Blake playing it safe and staying off the drugs for now. And LeMaitre is faster.

Anyway, for everyone begging LeMaitre to fix his start, he would if he could. He's just not the sort of runner who will ever be capable of having an explosive start (without drugs). On the other hand, I've been recommending for years that he concentrate on his speed endurance. This year he has finally done so, and look at the results! Keep up the good work, Christophe! Speed endurance rules!

Big Chance for Christophe: (in Moscow)

Blake pulled a muscle weeks ago when he ran aganist Kim Collins (Utech Classics).
Now he's far away from good shape.
Even his race against Kim Collins was weak. He was behind Kim Collins (at 50m ?) when he pulled a muscle.

Usain Bolt had also Problems with his muscles and is also far away from good shape.
Ok, he will ran better in Moscow.


I think, Rabat is a slow track (I agree with elispeedster) ..... look at the 400m : Wariner 46,05 Sec., Rooney 46,00

Sorry trackster, but i dont see future for Lemaitre in 100m.
And in Moscow, the normal is that Lemaitre gets being optimistic final, no more.
Or "miracle" like in 2011 where a lot of runners were injuried or false started like Bolt.
And in 2011 with a lot of runners out by several things, he "only" 4th, losing with Collins that is worst runner in 100 that him :sad:
And Dix was same level that him more or less in 100m too...

He will never be a great starter, and his final is very hard that he improves, it is very great now.
So times like 10.0x or 9.9x with good wind are very logical for him,but no more.
Sorry but is my opinion

Im a lot of more optimistic in 200m
If he can get 19.8 or better he will get medal :icon_smile:

I try analyze with the brain and not with my heart.
I would love that Christophe gets 9.8 with medium wind,but i see it impossible...

ZELLGADISS said:

Sorry, but im not so optimistic like most people here.
Lemaitre had very good race but we should analyze.
-His 9.98 is with +2.9 wind, it is a lot of wind.
Around 10.06 or 10.08 with normal wind or 10.02 with maximu legal wind 2.0(his record is 9.92 with 2.0 wind)
-Gatlin was tired after a lot of races this season and only 3 days after hard race in Rome.
So the final metres of Lemaitre were very good, but like always usually, while Gatlin had bad last metres.

In my opinion Lemaitre has in his legs sub10 this season, but no PB.
Of course if he has "luck" and gets good race with good start, good reaction time and 2.0 wind is possible, but in normal conditions i dont see it.

His future is in 200m.
He has improve his horrible start, probably he NEVER will be good starter, but he should to try to be a normal starter, for to be sub10 usually and wonderful times in 200m.

I dont see improvement in Lemaitre in this moment in his start(bad yet),first 30 metres(bad yet) or his final metres(very good like always).
I would love to tell another things, but it is the reality

Click to expand...

Totally disagree...the wind has to be looked at again, it probably was swirling. The track is notoriously slow and old. Gatlin, COllins, should of ran sub 10 as well with such strong wind - fatigued or not (Gatlin and Collins were pushing hard) . I looked at all the times from all events and everyone ran very slow. The 200 meters top time was 20.5 with a +3.1 wind. all of the 200 meters athletes, not elite, but had personal bests within 20.4 - 20.6 wind legal.

The burst of speed Lemaitre showed at the end is indicative that his new strength and muscle are starting to adapt to his natural speed. His weak start may not be due to strength which I prieviosuly thought was the factor, but rather, refined technique and drive.

His future is in the 100 and 200.

My prediction this year - 9.90 wind legal after the Moscow games; 19.67 - 19.70 in the 200 at Moscow.

ZELLGADISS said:

Sorry trackster, but i dont see future for Lemaitre in 100m.
And in Moscow, the normal is that Lemaitre gets being optimistic final, no more.
Or "miracle" like in 2011 where a lot of runners were injuried or false started like Bolt.
And in 2011 with a lot of runners out by several things, he "only" 4th, losing with Collins that is worst runner in 100 that him :sad:
And Dix was same level that him more or less in 100m too...

He will never be a great starter, and his final is very hard that he improves, it is very great now.
So times like 10.0x or 9.9x with good wind are very logical for him,but no more.
Sorry but is my opinion

Im a lot of more optimistic in 200m
If he can get 19.8 or better he will get medal :icon_smile:

I try analyze with the brain and not with my heart.
I would love that Christophe gets 9.8 with medium wind,but i see it impossible...

Click to expand...

You are correct, he will never be a good starter, but he can improve on it.

Ato Boldon would not have gone out of his way to say that Lemaitre is a 9.8 19.6 sprinter. He said it because he sees natural talent with unrefined technique that can be improved on. Some of the other Track forums are saying the same thing. They see what is lacking, and know it can be fixed. IF he improves his start just a bit, he will eventually run sub 9.9. No questiosn about it. It is up to his coaches and Lemaitre to possibly get a second opinion on how to fix the start and intital drive phase. It can be done.

Ok boys, i would love that your words are true soon, i would love it.

But in this moment, i have a lot of doubts about him in 100m...

But well if he gets 9.9x with medium wind in national championship, i will change my words

When Cl will race again?

He races in two weeks from what I've heard.


I'm with elite speedster and a few others in seeing the added muscle starting to pay off in his strength and endurance. Yes he is still a very
slow starter but that can be improved to a degree. It might even be him just getting use to the added bulk. Remember despite him being a horrible starter, he did still run 6.56 a couple of years ago. Who is to say he can't at least get back to that point. I can see him running times around 6.50 or so in a couple of years with a few minor adjustments. I've always thought that he was too stiff coming out of the blocks and it hurts his power in the drive phase. They need another coach to continue to help Coach Carraz fix it until it's as natural as walking down the street. I think his form looks great though other than the start and drive phase. He doesn't bob his head or wobble side to side nearly as much as he used to and his arm movement looks great.

The fast times are coming my friends. The question remains just how fast? We shall see but I see some new p.b's by Moscow.

I agree a little bit with everyone here.

On the one hand, there was a Big Positive from this race:
Lemaitre beat Gaitlin and Collins. He showed that his closing speed is still great (perhaps getting better?), and the win should be a big boost for his confidence.

On the other hand, there was a Big Negative from this race:
Lemaitre's start was not just bad, it was horrific!
His start has always been bad, but based on this race, dare I say it......it seems to be getting worse!
He will never be able to compete successfully at top level 100m competitions with a start like that.

Regarding the time, I feel neutral.
It certainly is not a fast time given the wind, but since no one else ran fast times at the meet, I am willing to ignore it and focus solely on the race and the competitors as the best indicators of Lemaitre's performance.

some very interesting comments from the T&FN forum:

"Regarding Lemaitre at 100m, a strong case could be made that he has not progressed at all since he won the 2009 EJC 100m title, 10.04 (no wind) ... as a 19 year old, that seems somewhat alarming."

"I completely agree with your assessment that he hasn't progressed since 2009 and I believe this is due to his coach "believing" he will have more success as a 200m runner. It's a false choice and it's retarding his development by not letting him focus on improving his acceleration phase or his 100m sprint race - which will benefit his 200m. They're trying to be cute and there is a good chance it will never work for a medal at the global level again."

"...but it could be a self-fulfilling prophecy: he runs better at 200m because he's been told he has a better chance at 200m. I'm only saying that the success that he's had to date may not come with same or similar times and that NOT making sure that Lemaitre has improved his first 30m BEFORE moving forward will not allow him to come back on guys who will be running as fast orfaster than Lemaitre is."

I've been MIA for awhile now, but happy to see the latest results. despite the wind, a win is a win. to do it against one of the best in the world is amazing. this win gives a great boost of confidence to the mental aspect of the race. so the race was not perfect. his reaction time was at best ok, and his drive phase was abysmal. if he could just get that patched up he would be a force to be reckoned with. all in all, the end results were positive.

When french athletic nationals will be?

If Lemaitre is in good shape he should to get sub10 in 100m with good wind(9.98 +1.0-1.5 wind) and 20 flat in 200m.
Im not sure when it will be national french championship but i imagine that is very soon...:undecided:

French Championchips : 12-14.July
Meeting Areva : 06.July

Here is a great article on Christohpe Lemaitre. Enjoy it gentlemen.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandst...14/christophe-lemaitre-friday-flyer-interview

Lemaitre is very good friend of Bolt and he admires him.
Bolt has a big respect about Lemaitre too.
In my opinion the two more talented runners in the world :becky:

Lemaitre will run in European Athletics Team Championship with France this weekend.
Finally Lemaitre will run in 100B on Saturday(i wait 10.0), because in the race A will run Vicaut that is in better shape in 100.
Later both will run 4x100 and on Sunday Lemaitre will run 200m where i wait 20.0 or sub20

This has to be a little bit of an eye opener to Christophe. Vicaut deserves to be in the A Race even though I wish Lemaitre was because he might have finally got his first sub 10 of the summer. It has be a little embarrassing that he is not in the prime race over the shorter distance and hopefully this will help him to finally get back to work on fixing his starting problems. Even in the 200 it may cost him a spot on the medal stand at the Worlds if he doesnt' start to get out of the blocks quicker and get his drive phase in order.

I would like to see a sub 20 this Sunday but the times in England are usually a little slower due to conditions. Let's wait and see what happens.

ZELLGADISS said:

Lemaitre will run in European Athletics Team Championship with France this weekend.
Finally Lemaitre will run in 100B on Saturday(i wait 10.0), because in the race A will run Vicaut that is in better shape in 100.
Later both will run 4x100 and on Sunday Lemaitre will run 200m where i wait 20.0 or sub20

Click to expand...

Richard Kilty was picked to run the 100m for Great Britain.

Christophe just announced his program on Facebook.

friday: 100m B.
saturday: 4x100m.
sunday : 200m.

At what hour Christophe will run?

RAUL said:

At what hour Christophe will run?

Click to expand...

6pm french time. But he said he will not run if the weather is bad. He's goal is to run below 10.10 , that shows, for me, that the 100m isn't anymore his core goal.

I just read that Vicaut gained 4kg of muscle this winter (1.88m for 83kg on French athletic officla site).

Lemaitre is still describes as a 1.90m 74kg athete.

No muscle, no good start, as it is not a technic problem.

Let's see what he can do for 200m.

What time Cl run?