What I'd like to know -- and perhaps someone who has followed his career more closely than I have could tell me -- is whether Gressier has always been known for his kick? I couldn't really tell you because in the races where I'd seen him before this year, he hadn't been competitive on the last lap.
Clearly it was very strong this year and was a key reason why he medalled twice. Has he always had a good kick and just wasn't strong enough to use it at the end of races at global/Euro champs? Or has developing a kick this year, at age 28, been the reason why he was able to medal?
I think he is good, was fit at the right time, ran well in steamy conditions, and it was a weaker field than normal.
Everyone’s PBs are inflated with super shoes, the double T/ lactate training has elevated the western world. But no top Ugandans, Kenyan does do track for the men anymore it seems.
I haven't read the whole thread, but I hope someone has emphasized his Euro/World XC resume. He handled Crippa in U20/23 for a FEW years, and I believe he has won a senior title or two since then against some respectable fields. He's had a steady climb in the 5k/10k/1500/3KSC; it seems natural. There hasn't been a jump in overall time, just championship performances. The kid is a gamer, and he always has been.
France will say the same thing when Young, Teare or Blanks medals; they will say they never had a kick. They've shown it in XC, and it hasn't transferred in its equivalency on the track. It'll come in time. Gressier's performance from a few weeks ago is what the aforementioned COULD do with a couple more years of consistency and a decision from 150 out on the day.
What I'd like to know -- and perhaps someone who has followed his career more closely than I have could tell me -- is whether Gressier has always been known for his kick? I couldn't really tell you because in the races where I'd seen him before this year, he hadn't been competitive on the last lap.
Clearly it was very strong this year and was a key reason why he medalled twice. Has he always had a good kick and just wasn't strong enough to use it at the end of races at global/Euro champs? Or has developing a kick this year, at age 28, been the reason why he was able to medal?
I have a very reliable source (someone close to gressier) telling me he has never had a kick. Said wouldn’t be surprised if he was doping “as much as that hurts me to say”
I haven't read the whole thread, but I hope someone has emphasized his Euro/World XC resume. He handled Crippa in U20/23 for a FEW years, and I believe he has won a senior title or two since then against some respectable fields. He's had a steady climb in the 5k/10k/1500/3KSC; it seems natural. There hasn't been a jump in overall time, just championship performances. The kid is a gamer, and he always has been.
He doesn't have any senior titles at Euro XC. He has three U23 titles, which he won in a row in 2017, 2018, 2019. But then lost to Jakob and got the bronze at the senior distance in Ireland in 2021. He has never competed at Euro cross since then. Don't think he has ever competed at World XC? At least never done anything noteworthy there. As for "handling Crippa", they are 1-1 as far as I know. Crippa beat him in 2015 and Jimmy got revenge in 2017.
In the past, he has had a reputation for showboating his finishes, particularly in cross when he had secure leads. He would dive into the mud at the line or takes crepes from the crowd and munch them as he finished. Lots of goofy Joie de vivre stuff. I've only followed him for 3 years, but after the dissapointment at Paris 2024, the biggest difference I have seen is a more professional attitude towards his racing and public image. He has always had soccer boy speed. His track races have become disciplined and his finishes this season have been more intense and focused. It appears that his maturity, both physical and mental, has come to the party this year and he holds off on celebrating until he crosses the line. Gressier has become more media savvy and his post race interviews reflect more humility (something the French really respect) and confidence that he can compete at the highest level. After a sexual harrasement controvery during the lead up to the Jeux Olympics, he is now in a very public steady relationship with the 2023 European champs bronze medalist (steeple) Aude Clavier.
Crippa - Gressier stands actually at 6-7 on all distances, if you include championships where they have been in different heats. Yeman has a tendency to DNF, for instance in their latest meet (Monaco 5000m -23).
But their paths have gone in different directions, Crippa towards the roads and Gressier mostly on the track. Ha has only run one minor XC/year after the 2021 EuroX, where he finished 3rd while Crippa stopped when he couldn't follow Jakob, Kaya & Jimmy.
Has it occured to you that he has improved since the earlier 5000m races he has competed in?
Gressier came to running from soccer in his mid teens (age 17?) so it is natural that he should have some time to develop his endurance when he among others was facing a certain Norwegian runner who has started much earlier.
But G has been a top runner on the European level from his teens placing 4th x2 in U20 Xcountry (beating such runners as Kerr, Alex Yee (gold medalist in OG 2021 in triathlon). I.Fontes (finalist in the OG 2021 1500m) and Adrian Ben (no. 8 in this year´s 1500m final in Tokyo). In 2026 only beaten by J.I., Yoh. Chiapenelli (6th in the 2025 Tokyo WC Marathon) and British Mah. Mah. (2:07 in the marathon).
In the U23 category he won 3 straight Euro XC as pointed out by others AND a 10000m and 5000m double (the 5000m run 2 days after the 10000m).
In his first senior euro XC he placed 3 after JI and a Tyrkish/ Kenyan runner who has since been busted.
You are stating that he never has shown sprinter abilities in international 5000m races (WC, OG and Euros).
Before 2025 he has only run the Budapest 5000m final where he placed 6 after a VERY fast last 1000m. And the 2024 OG 5000m where he didn´t qualify for the final. HE HAS NEVER RUN A SENIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 5000m.
So OF ALL THOSE RACES YOU ARE POINTING AT: In reality he has only run 1 international 5000M final before 2025. That seems to be a very narrow material to generalize from?!
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As pointed out by others: Gressier has improved well starting already early this season, he seems to have peaked well for the Worlds AND he ran some very good tactical races both in the 10000m and the 5000m.
Opposite Fisher and Young who didn´t seem to bring their best shape to Tokyo and who at least in the 10000m almost ran themselves into the ground.
Correction: In 2016 only beaten by JI............
A lot of good points, but "In reality he has only run 1 international 5000M final before 2025" it's a bit deceptive since he competed in the 5000m both in the 2021 and 2024 OG and 2023/2025 WC, but not advancing in Paris. So at least two global finals before 2025.
I haven't read the whole thread, but I hope someone has emphasized his Euro/World XC resume. He handled Crippa in U20/23 for a FEW years, and I believe he has won a senior title or two since then against some respectable fields. He's had a steady climb in the 5k/10k/1500/3KSC; it seems natural. There hasn't been a jump in overall time, just championship performances. The kid is a gamer, and he always has been.
He also holds the European road 5k record set in Monaco on 12 February 2023 a time of 13:12.
European cross country champ 4 (3x u23 , 1xsenior)
Zurich diamond league 3000
If he 3 times NCAA cross country and a 1 senior? dont know if that exist in the US or if its just NCAA and an American continent championship in 10.000, y'all would be saying that this was just a matter of time. Lets say Nico young took it? How would you feel? Doping as well?
If he was American, people would still be surprised, very surprised.
We would think he was a talented runner who was a cross country specialist with no chance on the track. And then suddenly he wins the whole thing? It would have been more shocking than say a Todd Williams winning it all back in the day.
You don't normally go from track also ran to world champion in your late 20s. In the history of worlds, there is only one other case close to this and he also was European - Mo Farah. And there were plenty of similar questions of - how did he get so much better?
I have compiled a chart that shows you the ages of all of the world 10,000m champions on the men's side. When Farah won his first 10000 world title, he was 30 (he won hist first 5000 at 28 and an Olympic 10,000 at 29). That is an outlier. The oldest previous first time champion besides him was just 25.
Year Location Champion Nationality Age at Win ---- ----------- ------------------ ----------- ---------- 1983 Helsinki Alberto Cova ITA 24 1987 Rome Paul Kipkoech KEN 24 1991 Tokyo Moses Tanui KEN 25 1993 Stuttgart Haile Gebrselassie ETH 20 1995 Gothenburg Haile Gebrselassie ETH 22 1997 Athens Haile Gebrselassie ETH 24 1999 Seville Haile Gebrselassie ETH 26 2001 Edmonton Charles Kamathi KEN 23 2003 Saint-Denis Kenenisa Bekele ETH 21 2005 Helsinki Kenenisa Bekele ETH 23 2007 Osaka Kenenisa Bekele ETH 25 2009 Berlin Kenenisa Bekele ETH 27 2011 Daegu Ibrahim Jeilan ETH 22 2013 Moscow Mo Farah GBR 30 2015 Beijing Mo Farah GBR 32 2017 London Mo Farah GBR 34 2019 Doha Joshua Cheptegei UGA 23 2022 Eugene Joshua Cheptegei UGA 25 2023 Budapest Joshua Cheptegei UGA 26 2025 Tokyo Jimmy Gressier FRA 28
I've bolded the ages of the fist time champions.
-Rojo
PS. For full disclosure , there are plenty of first time 5000 champs who were over the age of 25 at their first win including: Eamon Coghlan (30), Said Aouita (27), Yobes Ondieki (30), Salah Hissou (27), Benjamin Limo (27), Bernard Lagat (32), Kenenisa Bekele (27), Mo Farah (28).
He has the same resume at Nadia Batocletti. They were both the most dominant European junior and senior XC runners (throw in Jakob as well), so no surprise here. Gritty and been working hard.
After listening to the LR podcast it got me thinking about Jimmy's 10k victory. I mean here is someone who has never medalled period. All the sudden he is the World 10k Champ and wins a bronze in the 5k! So if it is all down to training what has he done differently?
Jimmy share your training!
Maybe he found more in makhloufi’s locker than just sweaty socks?
Comment encaisser 150 km de course par semaine sans se blesser ? Quelles méthodes d’entraînement font la différence sur piste ? Et comment de bonnes chaussures peuvent nous faire gagner de précieuses secondes ? Derrière chaqu...
What I'd like to know -- and perhaps someone who has followed his career more closely than I have could tell me -- is whether Gressier has always been known for his kick? I couldn't really tell you because in the races where I'd seen him before this year, he hadn't been competitive on the last lap.
Clearly it was very strong this year and was a key reason why he medalled twice. Has he always had a good kick and just wasn't strong enough to use it at the end of races at global/Euro champs? Or has developing a kick this year, at age 28, been the reason why he was able to medal?
Having followed a bit more closely (but no connection to him): He’s mentioned struggling to figure out peaking in past years (e.g, where he was a medal favourite at euros and came 4th/5th).
In particular, he seems to have reevaluated /been kinda affected by Jakob’s comments — where the Norge said Jimmy was training too hard. I think that is probably the biggest difference. Keep the racing to races, not during training (especially with worlds so late in the year). (
Coureur à gros moteur, Jimmy Gressier est devenu au fil des années un finisseur avant que le succès en Ligue de diamant ne le métamorphose pour de bon.
generally, I do recall him (a) having a good (not Cole Hocker, sure, but still) kick at age group Euro U20/U23 track and cross I watched back then, he just hasn’t quite had the fitness to use it in championship finals I feel and (b) him regularly having 1500m racing blocks in the last few years, specifically to work on his kick over time.
In the past, he has had a reputation for showboating his finishes, particularly in cross when he had secure leads. He would dive into the mud at the line or takes crepes from the crowd and munch them as he finished. Lots of goofy Joie de vivre stuff. I've only followed him for 3 years, but after the dissapointment at Paris 2024, the biggest difference I have seen is a more professional attitude towards his racing and public image. He has always had soccer boy speed. His track races have become disciplined and his finishes this season have been more intense and focused. It appears that his maturity, both physical and mental, has come to the party this year and he holds off on celebrating until he crosses the line. Gressier has become more media savvy and his post race interviews reflect more humility (something the French really respect) and confidence that he can compete at the highest level. After a sexual harrasement controvery during the lead up to the Jeux Olympics, he is now in a very public steady relationship with the 2023 European champs bronze medalist (steeple) Aude Clavier.
This is a very good analyse. His more disciplined approach and the mental factors cannot be understated to explain his recent victories (Zurich, Tokyo) at global stage. I believe his win in Zurich was preponderant for him to find these inner resources for his incredible finish in Tokyo.
I was never a Gressier fan (didn’t like much his “soccer player” bragging attitude), but hats off to him for his perseverance and steady progression up to the very top. I have no specific reason to believe he would not be clean.
