Ninon Chapelle became vice-champion of France in pole vaulting on Saturday in Angers. A result that leaves the athlete trained in Bourges uncertain about her Olympic participation. She is very keen to jump in Paris.
How did you find your competition?
A bit complicated, but it’s paradoxical because I was very, very good. I enter the competition by smashing a pole with which I can easily do 4.31 m. In fact, I touch the bar on the way up. The pole was too flexible (in relation to the force exerted by the athlete, Editor’s note)while it was the pole with which I made 4.50 m at the Europeans two weeks ago. It proves that everything is there, that I am in shape, but it costs an attempt. At 4.41 m, the same. I make two very high jumps, where I land on the bar. It was nothing. These are small adjustments, but it’s a pole, it can happen. I move on to the third attempt. Behind, at 4.48 m, there are two jumps that I don’t finish because I have too much desire and I go out of my adjustments. As MJ (Marie-Julie Bonnin) has a very, very solid competition (4.31 and 4.41 m on the first attempt, then 4.48 m on the second), it would have been necessary to go higher.
