An evening of extremes for Wilfried Happio. The 23-year-old athlete was crowned French champion in the 400-meter hurdles in Caen in 48”57, the fifth best French performance of all time, less than half an hour after being attacked during his warm-up, Saturday June 25.
“There was a big incident during the warm-up. Someone jumped on him and kicked himexplained Olivier Vallaeys, trainer of Wilfried Happio, to AFP and to The Team. A guy who came from nowhere asked him if it was really him Wilfried Happio and threw himself on him. I belted it. It was 20 minutes before the race, we were ready to go to the call room. We are in shock. The guy was arrested. Wilfried is fine. But I’m speechless, this is pure aggression. It’s scandalous. These are methods ofand wild.“
Minima for the Eugene Worlds!
Wilfried Happio (Lille Métropole Athlé) French Elite champion in the 400m hurdles in 48”57!
Fifth best performer in history!
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When setting off on the track at the Hélitas stadium in Caen, Happio still bore the scars of his attack, a black bandage crossing his face to cover his left eye. “I don’t want to spread it out, the case is in progress, competent people are taking care of itreacted Wilfried Happio. To talk about the race, with one eye it’s more complicated. The feelings were good.”
Because on the sporting side, the evening was brilliant for Happio. In addition to a title of champion of France, his chrono offers him a ticket for the Worlds of Eugene (United States) from July 15 to 24. The French championships represent the last chance for tricolor athletes to aim for the minima of the Worlds, essential to be part of the French selection unveiled on June 28.