Christophe Lemaitre "White Lightning" 9.92 and 19.80!

[white lightning]

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ITW with Christophe Lemaître less than 48hrs after his French record


Christophe Lemaître : « I didn't think I could go so fast »



Less than 48 hours after his new French record in the 100m (9''96 at the Montreuil meeting), the triple European champion reviews his race, details his progress and casts his mind to the future.
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Christophe, how was your evening after your second place in the 100m at the Montreuil meeting, behind Jamaican Yohan Blake, which culminated in a new French record?
It was quiet. I went back to the hotel, I had dinner and then I went to bed. And I slept very well!

With the hindsight of these past few hours, how do you rate your race record?
I have to admit that I'm surprised by my time. I wasn't expecting to have run so fast, especially given the weather conditions (it was 14° in Montreuil when the 100m was run). My race was only average. I felt a lot better in Rome, last month (3<SUP>rd</SUP>in a time of 10''00). It goes to show that I've made progress this year in nearly all the different sectors. Last year, Yohan Blake was way ahead of me at the Meeting Areva (9''95 compared with 10''09). Right now I'm just 1/100<SUP>th</SUP>behind him.

Can you explain to us where you think you have made progress?
Pretty much everywhere. My start is better. My technique is more fluid. I've gained power as I weigh two kilos more than I did last season (81/82kg instead of 79kg in 2010). Added to that I've improved my race finish, even though I'm still lacking consistency in this section of the 100m. I still find myself lengthening my stride, though my coach, Pierre Carraz, is pushing me to up the frequency of my strides instead.

Could the progress you've made enable you to set your sights on a medal at the Daegu Worlds?
It's hard to say. Nobody knows how far I can go. If I continue to progress at the same rate, I think I'll soon be capable of scoring a European record in the 100m (9''86 by Linford Christie). Right now, I know that anything can happen in a world final. I could just as easily shatter my record and win a medal as I could mess it up and finish 7<SUP>th</SUP> or 8<SUP>th</SUP>. One thing for sure is that I'll have to go very fast this year to reach the final. The times are already very low in the 100m. Subconsciously this competition doubtless pushed me a bit into going so fast so early in the season.




What have you got planned for the rest of your season?
I have to run in Stockholm, where I may well double up and do the 100 and 200m, in Lausanne, in Paris on 8 July against Usain Bolt in the 200 m, at the French championships and finally in Monaco. August will then be devoted to training, in Aix-les-Bains, southern France, before I head off to Daegu.

Are you going to run both distances in Daegu?
In principle, yes. The decision isn't quite definitive yet, but I'm prepared to do it.


*ASICS has been supporting Christophe Lemaître for the past 5 years.


This interview of 9 June 2011 is rights' free for printed press use</TD></TR></T></TABLE>

 

[Jamstar]

As I said earlier he has improved in every area of race, including his starts.

While 2 kilos over a period of year is not that much muscle, it certainly will help.

Another 5-7 over the rest of his career would be about where he should aim.


WL your slacking off, why no thread on Ivet Lalova who returned to fast running today by clocking a winded but fast 11.01, she is the world junior record holder you know.

 

[white lightning]

I know. My girlfriend is driving me crazy. She won't let me sleep, eat, or post that much. I like it but it drives me crazy at the same time. I think Lalova is back. She should go sub 11 easily by August. I hoping she can go sub 10.90 and make the finals. Her p.b is 10.77 which is great!

 

[white lightning]

This is a very cool pic. I thought you guys would like to see it! Viva Lemaitre!

Edited by: white lightning

 

[Jamstar]

Your a very lucky man WL.


On different note it seems Tyson Gay will not be competing at the 200 m at worlds, which is good news for CL.

 

[white lightning]

That is still a shame. Tyson Gay is a great competitor and very humble like Christophe. Tyson is doing this so he can break the world record of Bolt in my opinion. He wants the 100 meters world record.

Why am I a lucky man?

 

[Jamstar]

Yeah, now that I think about it it would be a shame, I think he might also be worried about getting injuried at the American trials and losing it all.

I was assuming you were being kept busy in a certain room by your girlfriend if you know what I mean, wink wink bump bump .

 

[white lightning]

Very true my friend. Haha. That is always a good distraction.

I think Christophe is going to go sub 9.90 with his next 2 races. I get so pumped. Sometimes I feel like I'm the one out there racing these guys. This summer is heating up!

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Very true my friend. Haha. That is always a good distraction.
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<div>I think Christophe is going to go sub 9.90 with his next 2 races. I get so pumped. Sometimes I feel like I'm the one out there racing these guys. This summer is heating up!</div>

white lightning, you have been right on several of your predictions brother, but this one is a little steeper than usual. I hope you are right!

 

[Jamstar]

WL you will be proved right!

That run in Paris was worth a 9.9low in better conditions.

So what will be my prize when CL runs 9.81 in world championships final.

 

[white lightning]

You would have bragging rights as the track expert here. I would like to see that but I think for him to run a 9.85 even will take a perfect race. He is still ayear or two away from being able to hit the 9.70's range. I do see him getting there and Bolts record is not out of reach. It is just too early to put that kind of pressure on him. The goal for this season is a sub 9.90according to his coach but I see him going beyond those expectations. Anything in the low to mid 9.80's is fine by me and a spot in the world championship finals.A bronze medal would be the icing on the cake but that might be a little too much to ask this soon. You never know though! I love watching this kid run!

 

[Jamstar]

Here is how I see it.

Most junior sprinters have a big jump (about .2) the year they start hitting the weights room real hard as seniors, in their case they are probably at 10.3-10.4 so they only get down to 10.1-10.2 and improve downwards from there.

In CL's case he was a 10.04-9.97 guy, so when the weights are added if the percentage drop is the same he will be in the 9.8low region.

Yeah I know there are juniors who ran 10.0x that never made that jump but most of those were either maturing early or had weights added to early which means they had nothing to gain in the weights room and adding weights too early will actually stunt an athletes growth.

 

[white is right]

Yes that's why I always thought that this guy was different than say Shirvington. His body is still willowy and similar to junior level sprinters body. Shirvington by the time he was 21 or so had a similar muscular build to other top runners.

 

[Twinsen9]

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I think I'll soon be capable of scoring a European record in the 100m (9''86 by Linford Christie).</span></td></tr></t></table>

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</div><div>I'm so happy to read this !

But... The European record in the 100m is 9,86 but Obikwelu (Christie ran 9,87 !).</div>

 

[Jamstar]

WR it happens all the time in track, coaches destroy talented junior athletes by starting heavy weights work way too early.


Any coach who has any idea about track knows that adding a heavy weights programme to developing juniors will stunt their growth.

That 9.86 is as good as gone just a matter of when it will go.

 

[mattharper]

I know this is a Lemaitre forum but bringing up Linford Christie reminds me of the time he got called for 2 false starts and was such an idiot he wouldint leave the track for 5 minutes. Im sure he is a classy guy but you just dont see most track and field athletes act like that unless it was the USA 4x100 relay team a few years back that decided to take the flag and use it for crotch floss. Disgusting.

 

[mastermulti]

Mastermulti.Christophe touches Bailey (or Bailey touches Christophe) in the end of the race.
<div></div><div>It's just that </div>

I disagree. I think it's more than that after watching the body language at that 2.20 mark

 

[mastermulti]

Yeah, now that I think about it it would be a shame, I think he might also be worried about getting injuried at the American trials and losing it all.

I was assuming you were being kept busy in a certain room by your girlfriend if you know what I mean, wink wink bump bump .

I think Lalova is his girlfriend

 

[mastermulti]

I mentioned Christophe's top ten average because Linford is the only European with a better one, 9.954, which I see Christophe beating down the track a little.
Christie only bettered Lemaitre's 9.96 on three occasions and his career went forever

Cool pic indeed W/L.
Can't wait for StockholmEdited by: mastermulti

 

[Observer]

WR it happens all the time in track, coaches destroy talented junior athletes by starting heavy weights work way too early.

Any coach who has any idea about track knows that adding a heavy weights programme to developing juniors will stunt their growth.

Why? I mean, why do heavy weights hurt junior athletes? I thought that those ideas about the growing bone ends being damaged was now considered obsolete. Or are there other reasons? Or simply an observation of fact?Edited by: Observer

 

[Jamstar]

Observer applying a heavy weights programme to a junior will stunt their growth and I dont care what the researchers say, I have seen it happen before.

I was thought that a junior must only do very light weights work as a heavy weights programme may damage their growth plates, cause severe injury and can even affect their CNS.

 

[albinosprint]

I know this is a Lemaitre forum but bringing up Linford Christie reminds me of the time he got called for 2 false starts and was such an idiot he wouldint leave the track for 5 minutes. Im sure he is a classy guy but you just dont see most track and field athletes act like that unless it was the USA 4x100 relay team a few years back that decided to take the flag and use it for crotch floss. Disgusting.

If I'm not mistaken, that was John Drummond who protested his ejection from the race due to false starts. he also happen to part of that disgraceful relay team.

 

[albinosprint]

and back to CL, I'm getting a feeling we could see 9.89 out of him this year. if he gets to the final of the WC you will see him break 9.9.

 

[freddie]

Christophe's
talent is clearly not yet recognized by the international media and their
paradigm that Black athletes are superior to others still remains firmly
intact.</span></span></span></span>The BBC reports of Bolt's
two recent races at 100m and 200m are illustrative.</span></span></span></span>In the 100 Bolt was 0.33s
off his own world record and the headlines announced that Bolt was "sluggish"Â￾
and that he "failed to impress"Â￾ in</span></span></span></span>Ostrava</span></span></span></span>- this despite the fact he beat
the former world record holder in the race.</span></span></span></span>However, in the 200 a few
days later he was 0.67s off his world record - virtually an</span></span></span></span>identical</span></span></span></span>relative amount - and the
headline was "triumphant return"Â￾ and the media announced that he was in
"imperious form"Â￾.</span></span></span></span>Why the difference in perception despite similar
performances? â€" because a skinny white guy was just 1/3 of a stride behind Bolt
in the 100; so clearly Bolt</span></span></span></span>must</span></span></span></span>have been off-form in the 100. Amazing!</span></span></span></span>

 

[waterbed]

I remember I read that when youth soccer talent who were better as the others and were placed in a higher age categorie in which they had to train hard ,they did grow less in height significantly