Athletics: Cyréna Samba-Mayela, Olympic vice-champion in the 100m hurdles, withdraws from the World Championships

"I tried. I spent a large part of this year handicapped by two injuries that followed one another. I pushed my limits […] but despite all my efforts, it wasn't enough," wrote Cyréna Samba-Mayela, who ran far below her standards for her comeback at the Scottish Championships on Sunday, the deadline to show "good form" to the French Athletics Federation.

The only French athletics medalist at the Paris Games, Cyréna Samba-Mayela had not run competitively since September 2024 before her return on Sunday at the low-key Scottish Championships in Grangemouth. Selected on condition, she did not necessarily have to run under the minimum time set by the French Athletics Federation (12.60) but had until Sunday to demonstrate her "ability to perform at the highest level."

Facing regional competitors, she certainly won her heat with a disconcerting lead, but the time at the finish, 13 sec 30, is her worst result since May 2022, all despite ideal weather conditions and a tailwind (+ 2.7 m/s). In the final, "CSM" was unable to run with much pace and finished fourth in the race in 13 sec 37 (wind: -0.1 m/s).