The French athlete is still desperately looking for a first medal, three days before the end of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Alone in the lead for more than fifteen kilometers, in the 35 km walk, Aurelien Quinion yet almost created a sensation on Thursday. The 30-year-old walker had a lead of more than thirty seconds over a peloton of pursuers, before accumulated penalties cost him dearly. The third, received before the 30th kilometer, earned him 3’30” of forced stop in the penalty area.
It therefore allowed the Spaniard Alvaro Martin, already a gold medalist in the 20 km walk in Budapest, to soar towards the title of world champion in the discipline. As for the fourth penalty, received between kilometers 32 and 33, when Aurélien Quinion could still aim for a medal, it was synonymous with disqualification.
“Talk about us”
“It’s not a disappointment, it was cool, we had fun, I even zigzagged, smiled the tricolor athlete after the event, at the microphone of France Télévisions. I know I’m at the limit. I felt like I was walking well, keeping the right frequency. But it’s getting better, I only get disqualified in the last three kilometres. 14th at the Worlds in Eugene (Oregon) in July 2022, Aurélien Quinion refers to the European Championships in Munich in August 2022, where he was disqualified as soon as he approached the 26th kilometer.
Almost euphoric in front of France Télévisions, he had a message to convey to the public and to the French media, while his compatriot Kévin Campion finished 14th (in 2h30’18”) this Thursday on the 35 km walk (a non-Olympic event) , and that Gabriel Bordier was ranked 10th in the 20 km. “Walking is the second strongest discipline in the French athletics federation after hurdles this year, notes Aurélien Quinion. We have often been forgotten. Tell us a bit about us, there is something. ” It’s done.