‘White Lightning’ Christophe Lemaitre
pictured: Christophe Lemaitreby white lightning
(4/25/10) As of right now, most people around the world have heard of Usain Bolt, the tall, gifted sprinter from Jamaica who has turned the track world upside down. He has broken the world records in the 100 & 200 meters. This Jamaican has run faster than people thought was humanly possible. People wonder if he is on anything or not? Time will tell but he has only two men that can even come close to him, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell. Until now.
There is a young phenom teenage sprinter from France setting the track on fire. Christophe Lemaitre has run faster than any one in the history of Europe as a teenager. His European record of 10.03 seconds in the 100 meters came with very little wind. His form was also below average and his start was horrible. He broke the European record of Dwain Chambers of England, who just got done serving a suspension for steroids. So many sprinters have been busted for using peds. From the Americans to the East Germans to the Jamaicans, cheating is a worldwide game now.
This is what is special about Christophe Lemaitre. He is very skinny and he has only been running for around four years now. His form is bad, and he has little strength. What he does have is world class speed. The kind of speed that comes around once in a lifetime. There has never been a white sprinter to run a sub 10 in the 100 meters. That is about to change soon. Christophe Lemaitre is about to smash through that barrier and most likely the 9.90 barrier as well. The world record stands at an astounding 9.58 seconds. This teenager from France should be called the Blonde Bullet. If any one on the planet can catch Bolt eventually, it just might be him. His form and strength are improving by the day and his body is slowly maturing. His nickname in France is “The Master.” A great name for this man child. He has also been callled PepeLeFlew.
The name he will be called by world wide eventually will by “White Lightning”.
The question on everyone’s mind will be answered at the 2012 London Olympics. Can the “lightning” beat the “bolt”?
I don’t know what will happen since that is a couple of years away. The one thing I do know is that no one should ever count this kid out. He is special just like Bolt. They may be the two best sprinters the world has ever seen when all is said and done. Usain Bolt is amazing and it is his time now but Lemaitre is coming! To be continued…
Christophe Lemaitre – 10.03s (+0.6m/s)
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Step your game up Craig… Just joking.
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Participant
23.5.2010
Translated with google:
The CA Montreuil 93 won Sunday’s 14th league title in France during the final of the Elite Interclub held at Stade Jean Rolland Franconville. Très attendus, Christophe Lemaître (Aix les Bains) et Teddy Tamgho (CA Montreuil) n’ont pas déçus en réalisant tous les deux leur meilleure performance en plein air. Very expected, Christophe Lemaitre (Aix les Bains) and Teddy Tamgho (CA Montreuil) have not disappointed in realizing both their best outdoor performance….
…Another strong performance recorded during the day, that of Christophe Lemaitre of 100 m, which beats the record with 10”03 de France hopeful of discipline and the best performance of the European year. “Even if it’s a good time, I am a little disappointed,” he confided, however, before taking part in the relay with teammates at Aix-les-Bains. I hoped still spend under 10 seconds TODAY ‘Today! The junior Jimmy Vicaud him, leave with a smile, satisfied with his 10”36 100 m
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Next in line might be Brady Gehret, the PA high schooler. He’s run the USA HS#1 21.13 200 indoor this year, and just posted the USA HS#1 400 last weekend at 46.39. His slender build and complexion will give a Lemaitre a run for the money in the “huh, what?” class. Maybe he’ll duck under 21 this weekend at the state meet if the weather cooperates.
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Brady Gehret should not be spoken of in the same sentence as Lemaitre in abilities. Gehret is a world away from where Jeremy Wariner was in high school as a 200/400 guy (let alone the 100m versus Lemaitre), despite JW picking up track when he was I believe a junior in HS.
Not a knock on the kid, but get some reality here. He could be the future, but Lemaitre has a European JUNIOR RECORD. Gehret is a ways away from the PA 100/200/400 records and will have a run for his money at the state meet.
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How come Lemaitre doesnt do big GP meets?
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An article from IAAF:
[b]Lemaitre closing on 10-sec barrier[/b]
The other young French prodigy, Lemaitre, 19, ran the 100m in a personal best of 10.03 (wind +0.6), after an average start before injecting a powerful acceleration midway and leaving the opposition far behind (Yannick Lesourd was 2nd in 10.43).
His former best time was set last year when he won the European Junior Championships, breaking the European Junior record in the process (10.04).
“I’m a little bit disappointed because I wanted to run under 10sec (the National record is held by Ronald Pognon in 9.99 since 2005), admitted Lemaitre. “Anyhow, I will have other occasions to try it again.”
Franconville was his third race outdoors, after Aix-les-Bains on 1 May (10.09, wind +1.0, winning from Pessonneaux 10.62) and Venissieux on 9 May (10.24, wind -2.2, way ahead of Jonathan Gelie 11.23).
This makes an enormous 0.64 winning margin so far this year at 100m, and since his disqualification for false start in the quarter-finals at the Berlin World Champs in August, Lemaitre has won 25 races ranging from 50m to 200m, all of them being run on French soil.
[b]His first appearance abroad is therefore keenly anticipated and should take place in the Rome IAAF Diamond League meeting on 10 June against sprint stars such as Tyson Gay or Asafa Powell in order to judge the new sprint find into an international context.[/b]
[i]Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF[/i]
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Brady Gehret should not be spoken of in the same sentence as Lemaitre in abilities. Gehret is a world away from where Jeremy Wariner was in high school as a 200/400 guy (let alone the 100m versus Lemaitre), despite JW picking up track when he was I believe a junior in HS.
Not a knock on the kid, but get some reality here. He could be the future, but Lemaitre has a European JUNIOR RECORD. Gehret is a ways away from the PA 100/200/400 records and will have a run for his money at the state meet.
No argument here. Mine was a comment inspired by the kid’s build as much as performance.
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Participant
An article from IAAF:
[quote][b]Lemaitre closing on 10-sec barrier[/b]
The other young French prodigy, Lemaitre, 19, ran the 100m in a personal best of 10.03 (wind +0.6), after an average start before injecting a powerful acceleration midway and leaving the opposition far behind (Yannick Lesourd was 2nd in 10.43).
His former best time was set last year when he won the European Junior Championships, breaking the European Junior record in the process (10.04).
“I’m a little bit disappointed because I wanted to run under 10sec (the National record is held by Ronald Pognon in 9.99 since 2005), admitted Lemaitre. “Anyhow, I will have other occasions to try it again.”
Franconville was his third race outdoors, after Aix-les-Bains on 1 May (10.09, wind +1.0, winning from Pessonneaux 10.62) and Venissieux on 9 May (10.24, wind -2.2, way ahead of Jonathan Gelie 11.23).
This makes an enormous 0.64 winning margin so far this year at 100m, and since his disqualification for false start in the quarter-finals at the Berlin World Champs in August, Lemaitre has won 25 races ranging from 50m to 200m, all of them being run on French soil.
[b]His first appearance abroad is therefore keenly anticipated and should take place in the Rome IAAF Diamond League meeting on 10 June against sprint stars such as Tyson Gay or Asafa Powell in order to judge the new sprint find into an international context.[/b]
[i]Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF[/i]
[/quote]
Egg on my face.
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Participant
Seen him run in Serbia last summer, absolutely amazing his top speed is savage! Was pulling away from Guliyev.
Easily the most impressive spritn performance I’ve seen first hand, though not the fastest, seen Chambers drop a 10.00 but Lemaitre’s had more wow factor
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