Return of Teddy Tamgho: the Paris Olympics “added value” but “not a trigger”

2023-04-18 22:47:37

Last March 31, an Instagram post shook French athletics. Teddy Tamgho, ex-star of the triple jump, announces his big comeback, nearly 10 years after his title of world champion, 4 years after the announcement of his retirement. In an interview for the daily l’Équipe, he confided in the reasons for his return.

A return that he has been maturing “for more than 10 months” in his words, since the World Championships in Eugene. “Seeing the triple competition made me want to jump. Which hadn’t happened to me since my decision to stop in 2019. During all these years, I saw the competitions being happy to be on the other side of the barrier. At no time did I want to say: Move over guys, I’m coming! It came unconsciously, ”explains the French triple jump record holder with a mark of 18.04 m.

A return with necessarily a little in mind the 2024 Olympic Games. [avec les Jeux]. (…) Moreover, it would have been the same if 2024 had been a year of World Championships. It’s true that Paris adds added value, but that’s not a trigger ”, fully assumes the Parisian athlete.

A return in January or next April?

But is he really capable of returning to the highest level? ” The future will tell. But if I don’t try it, we’ll never know. That there were no questions about my return would have been very surprising, destabilizing (…) It’s my craziest bet but that’s what would make it even more beautiful if I succeed, ”answers Teddy Tamgho .

Anyone who will already be 35 at the time of the Paris Olympics must first try to get back into physical shape. “I’m not hiding from you that Teddy today is no longer the same (he’s laughing)… It will go through fitness, weight loss – I would say with a ladle that I have 5-6 kg too much -, bodybuilding and mental preparation, ”temporizes the ex-champion of the world.

For a date to resume competition, the former world record holder in theaters is patient. “We will see if I can resume competition in January or if we have to wait until next April. It would be hasty and a mistake to be too good a strategist by already planning my 2024 season, ”he explains.

And in all this planning, he will also have to manage his status as a coach. “Nothing will be changed, I will always put the priority on them. I will arrange my training and my competitions according to them, ”says the coach of Burkinabe star Hughes Zango and French jumper Wilhem Belocian. Not enough to scare the 33-year-old athlete: “My decision is made, we’ll see, it’s no use trying to reason with me. Imagine that it worked, that I was even present at the Games! People will say: The madman was right. »