“It's the end of a fight but a big relief”: Kevin Mayer speaks out after withdrawing from the decathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Kevin Mayer tested himself this Thursday, August 1st, and it was inconclusive. MAXPPP – STADION-ACTU

Montpellier's Kevin Mayer withdrew from the decathlon this Thursday, August 1st after a test at the Stade de France that revealed persistent discomfort in his thigh. With a heavy heart but a clear mind, he came to express his disappointment and pride.

How did your test go??

I managed to do 85% intensity and 20 meters before feeling anything. My body was inhibited if I went 100%, it was sure to explode. I'm not here to put on a show. If I'm not competitive, it's useless.

What is the dominant feeling ?

I feel a certain sense of pride because I gave it my all until the end. I try to make it dominate the other emotions. I've been fighting like hell for 25 days. It's the end of a fight but it's also a big relief because I put myself in a nervous state to succeed in coming here. It was a childhood dream to do the Games but you also have to know how to admit defeat. We've seen it for several years, decathletes are often more defeated by their body than by their opponents. It's the law of this sport that I love so much.

“I was in a fog for three hours”

There was definitely hope ?

For the past five days, I didn't feel anything anymore, but I hadn't run. I wanted to take as long as possible to regenerate my tendon. There was a micro-hope. In those moments, I can transcend myself, but this was a deeper wound. I believed in it until the end, even if I tried to spare people so that they wouldn't be too disappointed.

Did you make the decision right away ?

No. I was in a fog for three hours. I saw the physiotherapist, took a cold bath, put on my support stockings, and took a nap with a meditation sound. Meditation means taking a step back, and as soon as I took a step back, I knew it was over. Let's not hide the fact that I wanted to go. But I sat down with my coaches, my staff, and Romain Barras. They told me that for my physical safety, it was stupid to burst over 20 meters just to get into the Stade de France. The goal was to thrill the crowd with my performances, and I was incapable of doing that. There was no point in going there.

What do you want now ?

I experienced so many moments with the French team…hellip; It’s a pride to be part of it. I only have one desire, which is to go and encourage my friends at all the stadiums. I have always enjoyed sport as an actor but as a spectator, just yesterday we had a huge evening. It’s perhaps a great therapy to go and see others. We'll see what happens next.

You will try to go to Los Angeles?

I don’t want to bring this up right now. What is certain is that I still want to have fun in athletics. Considering my career, I have been in agreement with myself for a long time about what I have done. There are plenty of times when I have had success while still wondering how. I no longer want to prove to people and go for medals. I really want to have fun training and competing. Seeing myself in gold in 2028 is your dream but I'm going to follow mine. I need to give myself a lot of rest because the tension I put on these Paris Games has completely destroyed me. It’s easier to go on vacation with a medal but I will force myself to take one.