European champion in the 100m hurdles, Cyréna Samba-Mayela suffers from Covid-19 and her participation in the French Championships in Angers is “uncertain“. “Back from the United States (where she has been training since the start of the 2023 school year, editor’s note), Cyréna arrived sick in Paris. An antigen test came back positive for Covid-19. Consequently, her participation in the French Championships is currently uncertain.“, writes those around him on social networks.
“In accordance with the regulations (of the FFA), we will go to Angers tomorrow (Saturday) morning, where the federation doctor will decide on the possibility for Cyréna to participate“, he adds. The 100m hurdles are scheduled for Saturday.
Early in the afternoon, a few hours before the start of the Angers competition, the high performance director of the French Athletics Federation (FFA), Romain Barras, was enigmatic about the case of the woman who will become the spearhead of French athletics in 2024.
We do everything we can to take no risks
“She will run if she can run. She may run, she may not run.” more “she will come this weekend“, Barras declared. “All athletes who want to participate in the Olympic Games must go to Angers for, if they have been injured, an assessment by the French team doctor..”
This is the case, for example, of cross-country skier Jimmy Gressier, who has a painful Achilles tendon but is required to compete to confirm his Olympic qualification. The French Championships are a mandatory stepping stone for athletes aiming for an Olympic ticket.
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For Samba-Mayela, who not only achieved the Olympic minimums but also posted the best world performance of the year (12.31) in the 100m hurdles, not running in Angers, with the agreement of the medical staff, would not call into question his selection for Paris. But it would inevitably raise questions about his fitness less than a month before the 2024 Olympics, where his European title and his incredible time allow him to dream of Olympic gold.
“We are doing everything we can to take no risks, either for Cyrena’s health or that of the other participants and the public.“, adds his entourage.
