French athletics has been looking for a few years for a new generation of phenomena that can replace the one that hatched at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona. If Kevin Mayer, Jimmy Vicaut, Renaud Lavillenie, Mélina Robert-Michon still wear the jersey of the France team in major events, others must take over for the great objective of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
One of the pearls of this rising generation is from Champigny-sur-Marne (Val-de-Marne): Cyréna Samba-Mayela. Smiling and reserved, the young 21-year-old woman already pulled out all the stops in March at the world indoor championships in Belgrade: the golden charm over 60 meters hurdles, a French record over the distance as a bonus. “I know for many it was a big surprise, but for my staff and me, not too much. Let’s say it: if you want to fight for a podium at the Paris Olympics, you have to go through it. analyzes the interested party from her room in Eugene, Oregon, where she is competing in the world championships in the 100 meter hurdles this Saturday.
“Clear goals”
Cyréna Samba-Mayela put on pointe shoes for the first time at the Athlétique Club de Paris Joinville, near her home, encouraged by her parents: “They love athletics, especially running. My little brothers also tasted it but they left the red ring to play basketball and combat sports. I started quite late, at 14. Under the watchful eyes of Albertine Koutouan, former African heptathlon champion and now coach in Ile-de-France, the young teenager progressed so much that the following year, she found herself participating in the championships of Europe of his age category in Tbilisi, Georgia.
2017 will be the year of his consecration: silver medal at the world championships in his category in Nairobi and admission to Insep, the temple of French high-level sport, in the Bois de Vincennes. Samba-Mayela works with no less than three coaches: former triple jumper world champion in 2013 Teddy Tamgho, former hurdler Garfield Darien, helped by his father Daniel. “I’m often asked if it’s not too much, but I take advantage of the technical eye of the three who get on well with each other, says the young athlete. Teddy deals a little more with the physical preparation. The Dariens are based in Saint-Raphaël: when I go to train there it also gives me a breath of fresh air. And press: “The three speak the same language, I never felt any inconsistency in a session or in the programming. Either way, the goals are clear to all of us.”
Fifth performance in Europe
In Eugene, the Frenchwoman is not the favorite, because the American and Jamaican champions, who for many had skipped the indoor championships in Belgrade, will be on the starting blocks: “I come here to do my best as usual, I don’t set myself too many goals or limits. Especially since I feel good, the tribulation period is definitely behind me.” Last year, although qualified for the Tokyo Games, Cyréna Samba-Mayela could not join Japan, injured in the left hamstring.
The one who has no model in her sport but who is inspired by great personalities like Serena Williams, is not afraid to chain international appointments either. Oddity of a calendar modified because of the Covid, this summer, a month just after the world championships, Munich will host the continental championships: “I don’t know how I’m going to get out of Eugene, because a competition of this type requires a lot of energy, but I’m sure that my staff will do everything so that I can be at the start in Munich.” Currently having the fifth performance of the season in Europe, in 12″76, the Frenchwoman will present herself there with more than serious chances of a medal.