It was the catastrophe scenario to absolutely avoid. And it happened in San Diego: Kevin Mayer had to withdraw due to injury. Suffering from a thigh injury, he gave up on his third attempt at the high jump, the fourth event of his decathlon in California. A major setback for the double world champion in the discipline who is still not qualified for the Paris Olympic Games. The race against time to achieve the minimum standard has begun.
On the evening of June 30, the end of the qualifying period for the 2024 Olympics, Kevin Mayer will have no way out. In this early spring, there are still “Plan B, C, D, E, F” as his coach Alexandre Bonacorsi had announced two days before the start of the competition. Because Mayer has been facing setbacks in recent months. He has not completed a single decathlon since his world title in July 2022 in Eugene.
At 32 years old, Mayer’s body seems more fragile than ever. He had already withdrawn from a decathlon in Brisbane last December due to a hip alert, after abandoning the one at the World Championships in Budapest the previous summer. Like deja vu, the Montpellier native threw in the towel by the Pacific Ocean. A thigh strain appeared during warm-up for the long jump, limiting him to a distance of 7.07m. Although Mayer threw the shot put with a good throw of 16.10m, he was unable to compete in the high jump.
With two failed attempts at only 1.89m, he could be heard groaning, “I can’t engage.” Along with his staff, and notably the Director of High Performance at the French Athletics Federation Romain Barras, who was present for the occasion, Kevin Mayer decided to make a final attempt at 1.92m. But he quickly gave up and left the competition. A huge disappointment for Mayer, who claimed to be in full possession of his abilities, and doubts about his ability to qualify for the Paris Olympics will grow. The minimum standard, set at 8460 points, is supposed to be a formality and the Frenchman himself repeats it endlessly. However, he can no longer complete all ten events without physically breaking down. At 32 years old, the decathlete’s body seems more fragile than ever.
He has until June 30 to qualify. The qualification period extends until June 30, the evening of the last day of the French Championships which will take place in Angers. Kevin Mayer has prepared to go for the minimum standard in Angers if necessary. For the only medal that has obsessed him for years: the gold at the Stade de France next August. The double Olympic silver medalist has won everything in his career, except for this ultimate title. And the pressure will intensify. There are obviously several opportunities before the national championships, such as the famous decathlon in Götzis, Austria on May 18 and 19. Others are also World Athletics labeled, such as those in Brescia, Italy, Ratlingen, Germany, or Arona, Spain between the end of April and the end of May. But it is hoped that Kevin Mayer’s injury to his right thigh is not too severe so as not to leave him sidelined for too long. His coach, Alexandre Bonacorsi, had warned, “we won’t take big risks in San Diego.” He wasn’t lying.
