Consistently performing above the required standard for Berlin (14.20 m), Rouguy Diallo (23 years old) knew for several weeks that she would be traveling to the German capital, where the European Athletics Championships will be held from August 6 to 12. Eighth in the continental rankings with a season-best record of 14.27 m, the triple jumper from Nice Côte d’Azur Athlétisme is only 20 centimeters away from the third place, held by Romanian Elena Andreea Panturoiu. Two years after her elimination in the qualifiers at the 2016 European Championships in Amsterdam, she can therefore hope for a final placement or even a podium finish on a great day.
For Frédéric Dagée (25 years old), it was not until yesterday afternoon that he learned of his selection for the first major outdoor championship of his senior career. With a sensational start to the season this winter, registering two initial throws of 20.25 m in Lyon and 20.36 m in Nice, just six centimeters off the French indoor record, the thrower from Montargis (Loiret) was then hampered for several months by an adductor injury. Despite the setback and delay in his preparation, he managed to retain his title as French elite champion in Albi with a throw of 20.01 m and, with a best performance of 20.04 m this summer, is ranked 25th in Europe considering three athletes per nation.
Camille Vandendriessche
