Silver medallist in London (2017) and bronze medallist in Doha (2019), Marie Josée Ta Lou missed out on the world podium a year ago in Eugene. The Ivorian sprinter is simply aiming for gold in the 100m in a few days’ time at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
At 34, Marie Josée Ta Lou is still very hungry. Perhaps even hungrier than in her early years on the track. With her wealth of experience under her belt, the Ivorian is keen to climb to the top of the 100m podium for the first time at the World Athletics Championships to be held in Budapest, Hungary, from August 19 to 29.
The Bouaflé native has twice won a world medal. But never has Marie Josée Ta Lou hung around her neck the charm that everyone covets: gold. In 2017 in London, a year after a very encouraging Olympic Games in Rio, she finished double runner-up in the 100m and 200m. She was on the podium again two years later in Doha. But this time in 3rd place.
“I need to get off to better starts”.
In Eugene last year, far from her best due to a number of physical problems that spoiled her preparation, the Ivorian finished 7th in the 100m. An anomaly she aims to correct in a few days’ time in Budapest. Ta Lou is simply aiming for gold at this competition. “I’m really going there to go for gold. And I know I can do it. Right now, I’m finishing very strong, but I’m aware that I still need to improve my start.I need to get it right to go for gold”, explains Marie Josée Ta Lou on the Wold Athletics website.
So far, Ta Lou is having a dream season. The Ivorian is racking up meeting wins and, above all, big times. She’s never been so fast in her life. With a time of 10s75 recorded on June 15, the Ivorian holds the 3rd best straight-line performance of the year.However, she is outstripped by her biggest rivals, Jamaican Shericka Jackson (10s65) and American Sha’Carri Richardson (10s71).
Another diamond league win.
Thank you LONDON☺️.I feel bless to be able to put together what coach ask. It’s time to focus now on the last piece of the puzzle for Budapest. I trust GOD and I know he is making the way #IAMWALKINGANDRUNNINGBYFAITH 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/hTH3ANBQSb
— MARIE JOSEE TA LOU-SMITH (@majotalou) July 24, 2023
