New French record holder and European co-record holder for the 100m for over 10 days (9″86 at the Paris-Saint-Denis meeting), Jimmy Vicaut spoke to Nice Premium before the Herculis Meeting. Guy Ontanon’s protégé did not hide his joy at running injury-free and breaking that famous 9″90 barrier. One regret remains, not demonstrating his progress over 200m. He arrives in Monaco with peace of mind but not without ambition.
Nice Premium: Jimmy, how do you explain this success since the beginning of the season? Was there a breakthrough moment?
Jimmy Vicaut: I continued doing what I was doing before, while emphasizing rest and care. Before, I wanted to train intensely even when tired. Now, I take my time to rest.
N.P.: How do you handle these injury periods on a mental level?
J.V.: I was really tired of getting injured. You start to doubt yourself, wonder if you’re cut out for this sport. It’s the job; it’s the life of an athlete. When you know you are worth a certain level and cannot prove it, it’s tough.
N.P.: What kind of relationship do you have with your coach, Guy Ontanon? What does he bring to you daily?
J.V.: Confidence. We talk about everything, the problems, what’s going well and what’s not. It’s almost “like a buddy.”
N.P.: How do you assess your season mid-July?
J.V.: Compared to other years, I am stronger, I go faster. It needed to materialize in a competition, and it happened at the Areva Meeting. I’ve reached a milestone.
“Don’t fall asleep during training”
N.P.: Do you feel capable of reaching a new level in the 200m, or do you see yourself as more of a pure 100m runner?
J.V.: I’ve worked well on the 200m since this season, and I want to prove to people that I’m also made for this distance. I’ll probably remain stronger in the 100m than in the 200m, but I want to show that what I do in training pays off. I’m sure I’ll go faster in the coming weeks or months.
N.P.: Nationally, there’s a rivalry with Christophe Lemaître. But isn’t that a plus to push each other higher?
J.V.: Completely, it’s stimulating. Without him, I wouldn’t have reached this level. He motivates me even if he doesn’t think the same. It’s a rivalry that serves as a wake-up call, a reminder. I must not fall asleep during training.
N.P.: There was Powell in Paris; here, it’ll be Gay, Gatlin, and Bromell. What outcome do you expect?
J.V.: (laughs) I’ll say that after the race. I’m not chasing the time like before, trying to run under 10 seconds. Today, I’m much more relaxed, under less pressure.
N.P.: People often talk about a psychological barrier in each discipline. Was the French record one for you?
J.V.: Exactly. It’s a liberation. I had been waiting for this record for three years, teasing it without succeeding. In training, I no longer seek perfection but quality without an ultimate time.
N.P.: What can we wish you in Beijing?
J.V.: We’ll see round by round. If I reach the final, that will already be something. Once in the final, everything resets.
Photo credit: Official Facebook Page of Jimmy Vicaut
