Kevin Mayer

Kevin Mayer
Kevin Mayer at the 2018 World Indoor Championships
Personal information
Born (1992-02-10) 10 February 1992
Argenteuil, France
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Sport
Country  France
Sport Athletics
Event(s) Decathlon, heptathlon
Club EA Rhône Vercors 26-07
Coached by Bertrand Valcin
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s) Decathlon: 9126 (WR)
Heptathlon: 6479 (AR)
Medal record
Olympic Games
2016 Rio de JaneiroDecathlon
World Championships
2017 LondonDecathlon
World Indoor Championships
2018 BirminghamHeptathlon
European Championships
2014 ZürichDecathlon
European Indoor Championships
2017 BelgradeHeptathlon
2013 GothenburgHeptathlon
World Junior Championships
2010 MonctonDecathlon
European Junior Championships
2011 TallinnDecathlon
World Youth Championships
2009 BrixenOctathlon

Kevin Mayer (French: [kevin majɛʁ],[1] [mejɛʁ][2] or [majœr], born 10 February 1992) is a French athlete. He is the world champion (2017), Olympic silver medalist (2016 Rio de Janeiro) and world record holder in Decathlon.

Career

2008–2010: Youth career: gold medals at Youth (under-18) and Junior (under-20) World Championships

He won the octathlon gold medal at the 2009 World Youth Championships and the decathlon gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships.[3][4]

2011–2012: Gold medal at the Junior (under-20) European Championships and first Olympic Games

He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics, finishing 15th.[5]

2013–2015: First senior medals at back-to-back European Championships, fourth place at the 2013 World Championships

He won a silver medal in the heptathlon at the 2013 European Athletics Indoor Championships with a new personal best of 6297 points. At the 2013 European Cup Combined Events he topped the podium and set personal bests in the 100 metres (11.04 sec), long jump (7.63 m), shot put (14.95 m) and the discus throw (44.89 m).[6]

On 12 August 2015, Mayer announced his withdrawal from the 2015 World Championships because of a hamstring injury sustained in end July 2015.[7]

2016: Second place at the Götzis Hypo-Meeting and Olympic silver medal, new personal best

On 6 March 2016, Mayer announced his withdrawal from the 2016 World Indoor Championships because of a heel injury sustained during the hurdles race at the French Indoor Athletics Championships held at the end of February in Aubière.[8]

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Mayer earned a silver medal with a new personal best of 8834 points, finish behind only two-time gold medallist and world record holder Ashton Eaton. Highlights of his campaign include equalling or improving personal outdoor bests in four events (100 m, shot put, 400 m, pole vault)[9][10][11] and performing seasonal bests in three others (long jump, high jump, 1500 m);[12][13][14] he was also the best decathlete in two disciplines (the shot put, with 15.76 m and 836 points; and the pole vault, with 5.40 m and 1035 points, sharing first place with Thomas van der Plaetsen)[15] and lead the standings at the end of the first day of the competition (i.e. after 5 out of 10 events).[10] Furthermore, this performance ranks as the sixth-best personal best score in the men's decathlon,[16] and showed a marked improvement in form for Mayer, bettering his former personal best of 8521 points (set during the aforementioned silver medal run at the 2014 European Athletics Championships) by 313 points and the French national record by 260 points.[17]

2017: European Indoor Champion and World Champion

In the run up to the 2017 European Athletics Indoor Championships, Mayer's first combined events competition of the year was an indoor track and field triathlon (60m hurdles, shot put, long jump) at the National Indoor Meeting of Paris on 8 February.[18] Mayer didn't receive a score in the 60m hurdles, but finished first in the other two events against the other two remaining participants, Bastien Auzeil and Gaël Querin. Nevertheless, he finished last (out of three), with 1652 points.[19] His first heptathlon was at the French Elite Indoor Championships in Bordeaux (organized by the French Athletics Federation) on 18–19 February. While Mayer didn't get marks in the long jump, but finished in first place in the other five events in participated in. He decided not to participate in the final 1,000 metres and therefore finished the heptathlon without a score.

At the 2017 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade on 4–5 March, his first international competition of the year, Mayer won the gold medal in the men's heptathlon with a new European record (6479 points), beating Jorge Ureña (silver, 6227 points) and Adam Helcelet (bronze, 6110 points).[20][21] He achieved three indoor personal bests (in the long jump, 60m hurdles, and the pole vault) and finished third or best in six out of seven events (except the 1000m, where he finished fourth) and established personal indoor records in five (all but the shot put and the 1000m).[22] This score is also the second-best personal record score for a men's indoor heptathlon (behind Ashton Eaton's world record of 6645 points); Mayer beat the previous European indoor record, set by Roman Šebrle at the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Budapest, by 41 points.[23]

Kevin Mayer competing in the 110 metres hurdles at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London.

On 15 April, he had his first outdoor competition at a triathlon (200m, high jump, discus throw) in L'Étang-Salé, Réunion. Mayer won all three events, finishing in first place with 2642 points.[24] Back in Europe, Mayer took part in his first decathlon of the year in his adopted hometown of Montpellier on 13–14 May. Despite not scoring a valid mark in two events in the first day, the long jump and the high jump, Mayer achieved a season best mark in the discus and the shot put.[25] Afterwards, Mayer attended events in Valence and Paris over the next month and a half to prepare some disciplines for the summer season.[18] He then took part in his last competition before the World Championships, the French Elite Outdoor Championships in Marseille, whose men's decathlon competition took place on 14–15 July. Mayer struggled with the rainy and windy conditions and the conditions of the track, eventually not finishing the competition after a few no marks.[26][27]

At the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London, Mayer completed his first decathlon of the year and won his first World Championships gold medal with a world-leading score of 8768 points, ahead of Germans Rico Freimuth (silver, 8564 points) and Kai Kazmirek (bronze, 8488 points);[28] this was also France's first international gold medal in the decathlon.[29] Despite not coming first in any specific discipline, Mayer achieved new personal bests in the 100 metres (10.70s, 929 points), 400 metres (48.28s, 897 points), and the 110 metres hurdles (13.75, 1007 points).[30][31][32] A setback in the pole vault – where he cleared his only mark at 5.10m only at the third and last try – 30 cm below his personal record – prevented him from breaking his personal record.[33]

In 2018, he broke Ashton Eaton's world record, establishing a new mark of 9126 points in Talence, France.[34]

Personal life

Mayer was born on 10 February 1992 in Argenteuil,[35] a city and commune in the northwest suburbs of Paris, to André and Carole Mayer.[36][37] His paternal family and German surname have their origin in the northeastern region of Lorraine,[lower-alpha 1] where his father grew up; some of his relatives still live in the Moselle department next to the border with Germany.[36] He has three brothers: Thibault, Thomas and Sébastien; the family was raised in La Roche-de-Glun, a small town by the Rhône river in the southeast of the country (Drôme department), where his parents still live.[38]

Mayer started practicing athletics at the sports association EA Tain-Tournon close to his hometown;[35] after the club's merger with two other Drôme-based athletics associations in 2013, Mayer continued representing it through the new institution, EA Rhône Vercors 26-07.[39][40] He trains at the CREPS Montpellier, a training center for high-performance athletes, since 2008; ever since moving to Montpellier, he has been coached by Bertrand Valcin.[41] He studied for a fr:Diplôme universitaire de technologie en mesures physiques (a technological degree in physical measurements, including metrology and instrumentation) at the University of Montpellier-Sète.[42]

Achievements

Performance in major international events

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  France
2009 World Youth Championships Brixen, Italy 1st Octathlon 6478 pts
2010 World Junior Championships Moncton, Canada 1st Decathlon 7928 pts
2011 European Junior Championships Tallinn, Estonia 1st Decathlon 8124 pts
2012 Olympic Games London, United Kingdom 15th Decathlon 7952 pts
2013 European Indoor Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 2nd Heptathlon 6297 pts
World Championships Moscow, Russia 4th Decathlon 8446 pts
2014 European Championships Zürich, Switzerland 2nd Decathlon 8521 pts
2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2nd Decathlon 8834 pts
2017 European Indoor Championships Belgrade, Serbia 1st Heptathlon 6479 pts
World Championships London, United Kingdom 1st Decathlon 8768 pts
2018 World Indoor Championships Birmingham, United Kingdom 1st Heptathlon 6348 pts
European Championships Berlin, Germany – Decathlon DNF

Best results in combined events

List of senior decathlons with results over 8000 points

As of 13 August 2017[43]
YearCompetitionLocationPositionPoints
2012Côte d'Azur Combined Events Regional ChampionshipsCannes-La Bocca, France1st8091
Brussels MeetingBrussels, Belgium1st8447
2013European Cup Combined Events – Super LeagueTallinn, Estonia1st8390
World ChampionshipsMoscow, Russia4th8446
2014Mehrkampf-MeetingRatingen, Germany2nd8323
European ChampionshipsZürich, Switzerland2nd8521
2015Arona Combined Events MeetingArona, Spain1st8469 (MR)
2016Hypo-MeetingGötzis, Austria2nd8446
Olympic GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil2nd8834 (NR)
2017World ChampionshipsLondon, United Kingdom1st8768
20182018 Decastar MeetingTalence, France1st9126 (WR)

List of senior heptathlons with results over 5800 points

As of 5 March 2017[43]
YearCompetitionLocationPositionPoints
2013French Indoor ChampionshipsAubière, France2nd5983
European Indoor ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden2nd6297
2017European Indoor ChampionshipsBelgrade, Serbia1st6479 (AR)

Personal bests

Outdoor

As of 16 September 2018[44]
Event Performance Location Date Virtual best performance
Decathlon9126 pointsTalence, France16 September 20189328 points
100 metres10.55Talence, France15 September 2018963 points
Long jump7.80 m (25 ft 7 in)Talence, France15 September 20181010 points
Shot put16.51 m (54 ft 2 in)Paris, France30 June 2018883 points
High jump2.09 m (6 ft 10​1⁄4 in)Brussels, Belgium30 June 2012887 points
400 metres48.26London, United Kingdom11 August 2017897 points
110 metres hurdles13.71Paris, France30 June 20181012 points
Discus throw50.54 m (165 ft 9​3⁄4 in)Talence, France16 September 2018882 points
Pole vault5.45 m (17 ft 10​1⁄2 in)Talence, France16 September 20181051 points
Javelin throw71.90 m (235 ft 10​1⁄2 in)Talence, France16 September 2018918 points
1500 metres4:18.04Brussels, Belgium1 July 2012825 points

Indoor

As of 5 March 2017[44]
Event Performance Location Date Virtual best performance
Heptathlon6479 points[lower-alpha 2]Belgrade, Serbia5 March 20176479 points
60 metres6.85Birmingham, United Kingdom2 March 2018936 points
Long jump7.54 m (24 ft 8​3⁄4 in)Belgrade, Serbia4 March 2017945 points
Shot put15.97 m (52 ft 4​1⁄2 in)Aubière, France27 February 2016849 points
High jump2.10 m (6 ft 10​1⁄2 in)Belgrade, Serbia / Aubière, France4 March 2017 / 13 February 2010887 points
60 metres hurdles7.79Paris, France7 February 20181035 points
Pole vault5.60 m (18 ft 4​1⁄4 in)Rouen, France2 February 20181100 points
1000 metres2:37.30Gothenburg, Sweden3 March 2013904 points

Notes

  1. ↑ Now part of the Grand Est region.
  2. ↑ European heptathlon best

References

  1. ↑ Replay TV – France. "ÉNORME GAFFE DE KEVIN MAYER!". YouTube. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  2. ↑ France 2. "Le nouveau champion du monde du décathlon Kévin Mayer invité du JT de 13h de France 2". YouTube. Frédérick Moulin. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "Octathlon Boys Results – 2009 World Youth Championships". IAAF. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  4. ↑ "Decathlon – Day Two". IAAF. 22 July 2010. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Kevin Mayer Profile". london2012.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "Mayer and Tyminska win in Tallinn as France take team title – IAAF Combined Events Challenge". IAAF. 30 June 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Le décathlonien Kévin Mayer forfait pour les Mondiaux de Pékin" (in French). L'Équipe. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  8. ↑ Tazé-Bernard, Thierry (6 March 2016). "Kevin Mayer déclare forfait pour les Mondiaux en salle de Portland" (in French). FranceTV Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  9. ↑ "Report: Decathlon 100m – Rio 2016 Olympic Games". IAAF. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Report: Decathlon 400m – Rio 2016 Olympic Games". IAAF. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "Report: Decathlon Pole Vault – Rio 2016 Olympic Games". IAAF. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  12. ↑ "Results The XXXI Olympics Games – Decathlon Men, Long Jump". IAAF. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  13. ↑ "Results The XXXI Olympics Games – Decathlon Men, High Jump". IAAF. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  14. ↑ "Results The XXXI Olympics Games – Decathlon Men, 1500 Metres". IAAF. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  15. ↑ "Report: Decathlon Shot Put – Rio 2016 Olympic Games". IAAF. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  16. ↑ "Senior Outdoor – Decathlon Men Lists". IAAF. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  17. ↑ "Report: Decathlon 1500m – Rio 2016 Olympic Games London 2017". IAAF. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  18. 1 2 "Kevin Mayer – les Résultats des Compétitions 2017 [Competition Results]" (in French). French Athletics Federation. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  19. ↑ "Meeting National en salle de Paris – Résultats triathlon [National Indoor Meeting of Paris – Triathlon results]" (in French). French Athletics Federation. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  20. ↑ "Heroics from Spanovic [sic], Muir and Mayer as European Indoor Championships conclude". IAAF. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  21. ↑ "Mayer breaks European heptathlon record!". European Athletics Association. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  22. ↑ "Final Results Book: European Athletics Indoor Champions – Belgrade 2017" (PDF). European Athletics Association. pp. 40–49. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  23. ↑ "Senior Indoor – Heptathlon Men Lists". IAAF. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  24. ↑ "Meeting de l'Etang Salé – Résultats triathlon [Meeting of L'Étang-Salé – Triathlon results]" (in French). French Athletics Federation. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  25. ↑ "Meeting à thème de Montpellier – Résultats decathlon [Meeting of Montpellier – Decathlon results]" (in French). French Athletics Federation. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  26. ↑ "Kevin Mayer frustré à Marseille [Kevin Mayer frustrated in Marseille]" (in French). L'Équipe. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  27. ↑ "Championnats de France – Kevin Mayer "frustré" [French Championships – Kevin Mayer "frustrated"]" (in French). Le Parisien. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  28. ↑ Smythe, Steve (12 August 2017). "Kevin Mayer wins world decathlon gold". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  29. ↑ "Report: Decathlon 1500m – IAAF World Championships London 2017". IAAF. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  30. ↑ "Report: Decathlon 100m – IAAF World Championships London 2017". IAAF. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  31. ↑ "Report: Decathlon 400m – IAAF World Championships London 2017". IAAF. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  32. ↑ "Report: Decathlon 100m hurdles – IAAF World Championships London 2017". IAAF. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  33. ↑ "Report: Decathlon Pole Vault – IAAF World Championships London 2017". IAAF. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  34. ↑ "France's Kevin Mayer obliterates decathlon world record". Eurosport. 2018-09-16. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  35. 1 2 "Argenteuil fier de Kevin Mayer [Argenteuil proud of Kevin Mayer]" (in French). Le Parisien. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  36. 1 2 "Vice-champion olympique, Kevin Mayer a des racines à Farschviller [Olympic runner-up Kevin Mayer has roots in Farschviller]" (in French). Le Républicain Lorrain. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  37. ↑ "Décathlon: "Ce n'est que le début" pour Mayer [Decathlon: "It's only the beginning" for Mayer]". Sport365.fr (in French). 19 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  38. ↑ "Mayer, au nom du siens [Mayer, in the name of his relatives]" (in French). Le Bien Public. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  39. ↑ "Rentrée Athlétique dense à Valence, Chabeuil et Tournon [Packed start to the athletic year in Valence, Chabeuil and Tournon]" (in French). EA Rhône Vercors 26-07. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  40. ↑ "European Athletics – Athlete: Kevin Mayer". European Athletic Association. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  41. ↑ Ventouillac, Marc (12 August 2017). "Bertrand Valcin, le discret coach de Kevin Mayer [Bertrand Valcin, the discreet coach of Kevin Mayer]" (in French). L'Équipe. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  42. ↑ "Kevin Mayer au rendez-vous" (in French). Le Parisien. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  43. 1 2 "Kevin Mayer – Profile". Decathlon 2000. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  44. 1 2 "Kevin Mayer – Profile". IAAF. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
Records
Preceded by
Czech Republic Roman Šebrle		 Men's heptathlon European record holder
5 March 2017 –		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
United States Ashton Eaton		 Men's decathlon World record holder
16 September 2018 –		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Czech Republic Roman Šebrle		 Men's decathlon European record holder
16 September 2018 –		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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