Source: L’équipe du dimanche 1er août 2021, (+Ghost1 edit).
Bosse's tricky dilemma in the 800m of the Tokyo Olympics
Last qualified on time for the semi-finals of the 800m, the 2017 world champion Pierre-Ambroise Bosse finds himself facing a tactical impasse on Sunday afternoon in the semi-finals (1:45 p.m.), French time.
In the land of the haikus, Pierre-Ambroise Bosse on Saturday quoted a Japanese proverb that he intends to make his own today: “Tomorrow will blow the wind of tomorrow. "A formula could not be more adapted in view of his qualification (some would say lucky) for the semi-finals of the 800 m: 6th in his heat in 1'45" 97, last drafted in time. "There is a French typhoon that is going pass tomorrow (today) ", declares the 2017 world champion as if to reassure himself before tonight (8:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m. French time). Do not see it go through.
Too strong opponents
Bosse will face formidable opponents in the semifinal: Amos, Rotich, Tuka, Giles, Nabil, Riseley and Jewett.
Bosse is the only one not to have broken 1'45 "this summer and the first three mentioned (Amos, Rotich, Tuka) are formidable opponents" Amos and Tuka are people who finish very strongly ", estimates Gilles Garcia, national middle distance coach. "These are all guys who finish quickly, adds Bruno Gajer, coach of Rénelle Lamote and former coach of Bosse. Afterwards, there are some who will miss their race."
The advantage is that, even if the Kenyan Rotich has been impressive in the heats (1'43 "75), there is no boss and there is no clear favorite.
During his heats , the protégé of Philippe Dupont found himself leading from the start without really having sought it. This is not a pattern to be repeated tonight. "Pierrot (the nickname of Bosse) is easy to start in front, but he does not seem to have the qualities for that at the moment," observes Bruno Gajer. He must save himself and especially be careful not to be in a bad position at 600 meters because afterwards you cannot go back up. "
Opinion shared by Gilles Garcia: “It's not going to happen the same way. Pierrot has no interest in being in front and in leading. He will have to be in the pack and stay in contact as long as possible ”. The problem is, Bosse doesn't have the means to wear down his opponents by outpacing them.
It is a constant in the races of Pierre-Ambroise Bosse this summer: he begins to fade in the home straight.
The Saturday heats confirmed this. We do not see how it could be otherwise this evening. "What Pierrot lacks is that he was not in the big track meetings this summer", deplores Gajer. Gilles Garcia wants to believe that things can move in 24 hours. “The race this morning (Saturday) is a plus, it can only be profitable for him to have run. It put him back in the pack, but when the legs don't follow, it's no use.
In a race which would be played in 1'45 ", Bosse will be preceded by guys with a faster finish. In another in 143", he will not be able to follow. We can turn the case in all directions, we do not see how he could get there. “By qualifying for the semi-finals, he did the minimum we expected of him, it can free him,” commented Gajer.
Overall from the gist of this article the coaches are not confident that their star runner will go through.
French pessimism?