Jacques Borlée: "Jonathan Sacoor, a talent that must be preserved"

The emotion was high, this Friday evening in Tampere, within the Belgian delegation present at the World Championships – 20 years old. The performance of Jonathan Sacoor, who certainly knew he had a real potential for medals, exceeded expectations. Even those of his coach Jacques Borlée, who knows well now this athlete with whom he has been working for a year and a half.

"Since the semifinal, where he signed the fastest time the day before, Jonathan was very serene and we managed very well the day this Friday " explains the Brussels coach. "Jonathan has remarkably applied the instructions I gave him, he has shown admirable ability to listen, we had anticipated the departure of Jamaican Taylor and he did not panic at all. made a better turn than Thursday and showed a total relaxation.This is one of his great strengths. "

The chrono still a little surprised Jacques Borlée. "He had a great internship in Orlando at Easter, after which he had a little decelerated.The goal was this Mondial, nothing else.I was expecting him in the final at 45.20 and he still does Bravo to him! This is a historic moment which he must enjoy, even if the 4×400 m (Editor's note: with, in the team, a certain Rayane Borlée, one of the coach's children) [19459004isstillwaitingforitthisweekend"

No question, however, for Jacques Borlée to field Jonathan Sacoor in individual at the European Championships in Berlin. "There is no question of it " he states. "He is not yet ready for this physically and I absolutely do not want to burn him, I will only take him back in relay, he is a huge talent that will still bring us a lot of happiness if we preserve him … "

Earlier in the day, Eliott Crestan (1: 48.92) and Pieter Sisk (1: 49.40) qualified for the semi-finals of the 800m, Namur with the second time of the entries. Mathilde Deswaef (25th on 1,500 m in 4: 30.31) and Zita Goossens (height, 1.80 m) failed immediately. This Saturday, Thomas Carmoy will play the final of the height.