The trail running world champion is Lozérienne! Blandine L’Hirondel won the title this Saturday, in Thailand, on a course of 80 kilometers completed in 8 hours, 22 minutes and 14 seconds. The obstetrician-gynecologist of Mende, favorite of the competition, relegated her runner-up to more than ten minutes.
She was the favorite and it’s always a difficult status for an athlete to bear.
“I’m all the more proud of this victory as she was the favorite and it’s always a difficult status to bear for an athlete… and for his coach!“says Philippe Propage, who has been collaborating with Blandine L’Hirondel since 2019. The coach, who was unable to go to Thailand, did not experience distance running very well. “I had a feeling of helplessness even greater than usual” he admits, praising the qualities of his athlete that difficulties have not spared this season. “The preparation was disrupted by an operation in April, she had to stop running for 6 weeks. She quickly regained her level since at the end of June she became European champion in the discipline (…) then she became a big ankle sprain in September but once again these exceptional capacities allow him to face and win this new title today.“
Already world champion in 2019, Blandine L’Hirondel allows the French team to win the title of team world champion this Saturday. Her performance and those of Audrey Tanguy (6th) and Marion Delespierre (7th) make Les Bleues shine. On the 40 kilometer trail, another Lozérienne, Mathilde Sagnes, came 10th.