Kevin Mayer “is different, more serene, with more perspective this season. He is very calm, he knows where he is going”

Alexandre Bonacorsi croit dur comme fer en son poulain Kevin Mayer. MAXPPP – STADION-ACTU

Le décathlonien participe, ces jeudi et vendredi à San Diego (USA), à l’Aztec Invitational. Le Montpelliérain vise les minima pour les JO. État des lieux avec son coach, Alexandre Bonacorsi.

Kevin Mayer is still not qualified for the Olympic Games. This Thursday and Friday, the Montpellier player is competing in the Aztec Invitational, a university competition, in San Diego (United States). In California, the decathlon world record holder (9 126 points) hopes to finally get his ticket via the minimums (8 460).
A few hours before the start of the events, his coach, Alexandre Bonacorsi, takes stock of the situation.

Also read: Athletics/Euro-2018: Barras – Mayer, the limitless decathlon

You arrived in San Diego on March 5. What has been Kevin Mayer's program since ?

We are based at San Diego State University. This is where the decathlon will take place on Thursday and Friday. Most of the work had previously been carried out in Brisbane (Australia) at the start of the year and in Montpellier. Since our arrival, we have above all refined each event on very acceptable infrastructures. It’s time for final settings.

How does he feel ? No minor ailments ?

There is always some tension in a decathlete. We will see the day of the competition. But it looks pretty good. All lights are green.

A priori, Kevin won't really have any competition during this university decathlon. Is this a problem?

I consulted the start-list and, indeed, there are no big fish. That being said, you still have to be careful. In the USA, at university, you can always come across a guy who runs the 100 m in 10”40. Kevin doesn't need competition to motivate himself and achieve the minimums.

What is his state of mind?

Confident about the preparation. He felt himself progressing over the last two or three months, without stopping. Afterwards, you have to qualify. This is not the situation he prefers even if, in 2016 and 2020, Kevin already did it. He no longer has a choice, he must go. We have to go.

Has he changed his behavior in this Olympic year ?

I find it different from other seasons, more serene, with more perspective. One might have thought the opposite, that he would panic because of the qualification. Instead, he's very calm, he knows where he's going.

Will you take all the risks to obtain this qualification?

No. We won't take any risks. We are already thinking about plans B, C, D, E, F… If necessary, he will seek his qualification during the French Elite Championships (end of June in Angers). It will be four weeks before the Olympic Games. There, it’s more like plan G.

What is his program between now and Thursday (10am) and the start of the decathlon?

We'll stay quiet. Tomorrow (Wednesday), we will do the traditional pre-competition stretching. Afterwards, it will be juice, rest and we will watch some films.

Have you checked the weather forecast?

It hailed last week (laughs). Thursday and Friday, the conditions will be optimal: neither too hot nor too cold. 20° and the sun.

Kevin Mayer will begin his decathlon this Thursday at 10:30 a.m. (California time). The last event of the first day is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.