Christophe Lemaitre "White Lightning" 9.92 and 19.80!

[elispeedster]

FloJo, the fastest woman of all times, had no muscles in the upper body.

Flo Jo was ripped and strong. Dont let your eyes deceive you. Size and strength are not the same. Muscle size for the most part has nothing to do with Athletic strength.

The Average Athlete can make good gains in speed with a increase in strength. Someone like Lemaitre, who has tons of natural speed, will make gains with a little strength increase. The key is power. His body will adapt and he will run very very fast in both 100 and 200, though I have a suspicion his 100 time will peak after the Worlds

 

[lactatking]

I think, Flo Jo changed her sprinting technique, it was not only doping (doping was never proved).
Nowadays nearly every finalist (London 2012) runs this way:
The lower leg swings forward and shortly before touchdown the lower leg swings backwards to minimize the breaking forces .
and second:
The touchdown of the foot is nearer to the body center of gravity
(I think, that's the reason why Christophe Lemaitre runs with little hats/caps. That was a theme in this thread)

 

[elispeedster]

Bolt loses to Gatlin by .01...Tumi Runs 10.29 (sorry guys, he will never run sub 10, I dont see it, dosent have that kick mid race like Lemaitre, Gatlin, Bolt, Gay etc have)

Vicaut out of Lane 1 runs 10.02

hardly any wind

 

[lactatking]

Jimmy Vicauts reaction time was 0,199 s.
Very bad ....

 

[lactatking]

In Manchester, Kim Collins had the same split time at 100m as CL

 

[jacknyc]

Jimmy Vicaut ran 10.02 a personal best. Not surprising given his great indoor season.
Now I'm wondering if he will surpass Lemaitre as the fastest Frenchman, or will he give Lemaitre motivation to stay ahead of him?
I think Lemaitre may have lost some motivation in the 100m because on the on hand, he feels he can't compete with the Jamaicans and Americans; and on the other hand has easily been the top 100m sprinter in Europe.
However, maybe having a countryman at his level will fire him up to hold his #1 ranking in France and in Europe.
Let's hope so.

 

[white lightning]

That is the second time Vicaut has run a 10.02 wind legal. He is right there with Christophe and he doesn't need the wind. He also did this out of lane one in a big race against the best competetors. Jimmy Vicaut could have won this race if he didn't fade the last 10 meters or so. Still an excellent showing from him. I hope it does motivate Christophe. I just don't want him to feel like he is too pressured. His personality is very introverted and he is shy as we all know. He runs relaxed when there is no pressure. The threat of a teammate beating him on a day to day basis could be good or bad. It might just bring back bad memories of all of the years that Lemaitre was bullied. I sure hope not. I am going to stay postitive and continue to believe that he is headed in the right direction.

I'm going out on a limb. If the weather is warm and he has a positive wind, I say his first sub 10 of the year in Monaco!

 

[ZELLGADISS]

white lightning you are very very optimistic if you think that Vicaut with better last metres wins that race...

10.02 vs 9.94 is big difference, he never would win that race, with big finish included.
By the other hand it is very sure that Vicaut very soon will get sub10.
This year impossible to break record of Lemaite 9.92, but perhaps he is near and in the future i see him sub 9.9
To Lemaitre i dont see him really.....

 

[Christophe Lemaitre]

The results will soon be evident. The observant will notice the added muscle. Although, still small compared to some, it is clearly an increase for Christophe. Muscle is good but only if it adds power. The added power will soon be evident. 20.17 in cold weather and with an intentionally slow start.

 

[RAUL]

First sub 10

Christophe won the race in Rabat against Justin Gatlin and Kim Collins!!!! Christophe ran a 9,98 and Gatlin a 10,02,verry good result but wind was 2.9 and with a reaction time of 0.191 so i think is a good result for this moment especialy because he beat justin gatlin who is a verry good opponent good for christophe at his peak in this season he should ran a 9.88 with a tenth faster on same condition!!! Good luck Christophe!

 

[Izwal]

Lemaitre 9.98 beats Gatlin 10.02 in Rabat!

 

[white lightning]

Man I wish I could have seen this race live. Christophe seems to have Justin Gatlins number. This is the 2nd or 3rd time he has beaten him over the last couple of years. What a huge win. Gatlin just beat Bolt recently.

Forget the wind. This is more important because he went sub 10 and he beat a olympic/world champs finalist who is one of the top 3 or 4 sprinters on earth. It's about building confidence. Other than beating Bolt, Gay or Blake, this is as good as it gets. Woohoo. I'm pumped up right now. Damn why couldn't the wind have been 2.0? Haha. Oh well. What a great day.


Way to go Christophe! Someone find a video of this race as soon as possilbe. Thanks guys. I will post one if I find it first.


Viva Lemaitre. Viva Le France. PepeLeFlew is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rockon:

 

[RAUL]

LEMAITRE is on a good road right now.After 20,17 with a intentionatly slow start now he beat Gatlin and ran sub 10. In Moscow he should be in 9.9low range and in 19.7 range i hope another sub 10 in monaco but this time a legally one!

 

[jacknyc]

here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW-yJy2ECU8&feature=youtu.be

Amazing finish!
But still a terrible, terrible start.
IF he could improve his start he would be amazing.
But that's a big IF, that's been hanging around for several yrs.

 

[white lightning]

That has to be the greatest comeback that I've ever seen in a professional 100 meters race. Carl Lewis used to come back from quite a ways back but never nothing even close to this. Christophe has top end speed to die for. He litreally could do what Bolt, Blake and Gay do if he only had a good start. Hell even an average start.

He is going to challenge for the medals in Moscow. He continues to improve with each race and his added muscle looks good on him. I've said it many times before. 2016 will be the year of Lemaitre! He will be in his prime time and he will own the planet in Brazil.

 

[jacknyc]

An interesting comment from the T&FN message board:

"He needs to find SOMEONE to teach him to start.... If not that will truly be one of the travesties in this sport because this guy has sub-9.90 written all over him if he does. He'll never live up to his full potential if he keeps giving up 10 meters at the start of the race damn it!"

Very True!

 

[elispeedster]

here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW-yJy2ECU8&feature=youtu.be

Amazing finish!
But still a terrible, terrible start.
IF he could improve his start he would be amazing.
But that's a big IF, that's been hanging around for several yrs.

A Few observations: One, the wind gauge has to be wrong. It could of been swirling and came out +2.9 at the finish beacuse for Gatlin and Collins not to dip under 10 with that kind of wind is strange.

Two, the track has to be notoriously slow and undervdeveloped compared to the European tracks.

Three, What a ridiculously slow start, he was dead last at 20 meters, and yet he managed to win. He looks like Bolt when accelerating at the end of the race.

Christophe should take the rest of the season on working on his start all day and night. My God, if he can fix that start just a bit, just a tiny bit...we are talking low 9.8's for sure at his peak.

PS: A great Gesture by Justin Gatlin to Shake and Hug Christophe after the race, even though he lost.

 

[elispeedster]

An interesting comment from the T&FN message board:

"He needs to find SOMEONE to teach him to start.... If not that will truly be one of the travesties in this sport because this guy has sub-9.90 written all over him if he does. He'll never live up to his full potential if he keeps giving up 10 meters at the start of the race damn it!"

Very True!

Agreed, this was spotted and stated by Ato Boldon who I think knows what he is talking about. Christophe wil never be a good starter, but he doesn't need to be, he just needs a slight improvement - that will be enough. Except for Bolt, Gay, I never seen anyone accelerate like that at the 60 meter point and on.

 

[white lightning]

I still can't believe what my eyes see. Who in the world can run down Justin Gatlin and Kim Collins like that? That is a gift from God. This kid is from another planet.

I am going to put the rest of this in capital letters in the hopes that Christophe and his coach reads this.



FIX YOUR START! PLEASE FIX YOUR START SO WE CAN BE A WITNESS TO ONE OF THE GREATEST SPRINTERS THAT EVER GRACED THE PLANET EARTH.

FIX YOUR DAMN START. DO IT NOW! THE YEARS ARE FLYING BY AND YOUR ABOUT TO GO INTO YOUR PRIME. DON'T WASTE IT.

FIX YOUR START. FIX YOUR DRIVE PHASE. FOR THE TRACK FANS OF THE EARTH. FIX YOUR DAMN START AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WILL FALL INTO PLACE.

ONE LAST TIME. SAY IT WITH ME GUYS. CHRISTOPHE LEMAITRE, FIX YOUR DAMN START. YOUR A LEGEND AND LEGENDS NEVER ARE THAT FAR BEHIND EVERY DAMN RACE. PLEASE FIX YOUR START AND DO IT RIGHT AWAY. WE LOVE YOU CHRISTOPHE!!!:thumb:

 

[elispeedster]

I still can't believe what my eyes see. Who in the world can run down Justin Gatlin and Kim Collins like that? That is a gift from God. This could is from another planet.

I am going to put the rest of this in capital letters in the hopes that Christophe and his coach reads this.



FIX YOUR START! PLEASE FIX YOUR START SO WE CAN BE A WITNESS TO ONE OF THE GREATEST SPRINTERS THAT EVER GRACED THE PLANET EARTH.

FIX YOUR DAMN START. DO IT NOW! THE YEARS ARE FLYING BY AND YOUR ABOUT TO GO INTO YOUR PRIME. DON'T WASTE IT.

FIX YOUR START. FIX YOUR DRIVE PHASE. FOR THE TRACK FANS OF THE EARTH. FIX YOUR DAMN START AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WILL FALL INTO PLACE.

ONE LAST TIME. SAY IT WITH ME GUYS. CHRISTOPHE LEMAITRE, FIX YOUR DAMN START. YOUR A LEGEND AND LEGENDS NEVER ARE THAT FAR BEHIND EVERY DAMN RACE. PLEASE FIX YOUR START AND DO IT RIGHT AWAY. WE LOVE YOU CHRISTOPHE!!!:thumb:

lol! The problem is Christophe needs a 2nd opinion in regards to his technique/training which is still somewhat flawed. Amazingly he can push out ridiculous top end speed with such inefficient technique.

 

[Izwal]

Have a look at Gatlin face:



http://www.lequipe.fr/Athletisme/Actualites/Lemaitre-devant-gatlin/377476

 

[freddie]

A Few observations: One, the wind gauge has to be wrong. It could of been swirling and came out +2.9 at the finish beacuse for Gatlin and Collins not to dip under 10 with that kind of wind is strange.

I agree elispeedster that was not a typical headwind of 2.9m/s. Look at the long jump and triple jump results and the wind was swirling from one direction to the other.

It was simply the most amazing sprint performance I have ever seen.

 

[whiteathlete33]

I still can't believe what my eyes see. Who in the world can run down Justin Gatlin and Kim Collins like that? That is a gift from God. This could is from another planet.

I am going to put the rest of this in capital letters in the hopes that Christophe and his coach reads this.



FIX YOUR START! PLEASE FIX YOUR START SO WE CAN BE A WITNESS TO ONE OF THE GREATEST SPRINTERS THAT EVER GRACED THE PLANET EARTH.

FIX YOUR DAMN START. DO IT NOW! THE YEARS ARE FLYING BY AND YOUR ABOUT TO GO INTO YOUR PRIME. DON'T WASTE IT.

FIX YOUR START. FIX YOUR DRIVE PHASE. FOR THE TRACK FANS OF THE EARTH. FIX YOUR DAMN START AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WILL FALL INTO PLACE.

ONE LAST TIME. SAY IT WITH ME GUYS. CHRISTOPHE LEMAITRE, FIX YOUR DAMN START. YOUR A LEGEND AND LEGENDS NEVER ARE THAT FAR BEHIND EVERY DAMN RACE. PLEASE FIX YOUR START AND DO IT RIGHT AWAY. WE LOVE YOU CHRISTOPHE!!!:thumb:

This is excellent news. When was the last time he went sub 10 seconds. Was it two years ago? Regarding his start, maybe he can't fix it. I'm sure he knows that's his biggest issue and has been working on fixing it for a few years but maybe he simply can't.

 

[elispeedster]

This is excellent news. When was the last time he went sub 10 seconds. Was it two years ago? Regarding his start, maybe he can't fix it. I'm sure he knows that's his biggest issue and has been working on fixing it for a few years but maybe he simply can't.

He'll never be a good starter, but he can fix it a bit better... and a bit does go a long way.

 

[freddie]

More on the wind in Christophe's race: Kemar Hyman who was 5th in the race in 10.22 ran a legal 9.95 last year. All indications are that 9.98 was a legitimate time.