Olympic hurdler Sasha Zhoya: 'Paris 2024 is the beginning of my story' (2024)

Ever since he was a teenager, Sasha Zhoya has been one of world athletics' most coveted jewels. As a two-time world champion in the cadet and junior categories and holder of world records in these age categories, the 110 m hurdles specialist was a finalist at the last elite World Championships in 2023. At 22, he hopes to run as fast as possible – at the Olympic Games, if possible – and get under 13 seconds to compete with the best in his discipline.

In 2019, you had to pick your sport nationality. You chose France, with the prospect of the Paris Olympics in mind. Here you are...

This is it, I'm here. I simultaneously can't wait for it to start and for it to end. When you've been waiting for something for a long time, it takes a lot of energy. I want to experience this moment. Paris 2024 is the beginning of my story and I want to see how far it can take me.

You don't have any regrets?

Oh no, no! Every day confirms that I've made the right choice in terms of training, infrastructure and the people around me. It's comforting because I obviously still had doubts during the first year. I've improved much more than if I'd stayed in Australia.

Doesn't your more individualistic, Anglo-Saxon approach to sport sometimes clash with the more collective federal framework?

The collective side of sport is not unique to France. There are moments when we all need to get together before a championship to create a French team atmosphere, but athletics is an individual sport. You're alone behind your starting blocks. Coming together is good, but if an athlete doesn't turn up because he has other plans for his preparation, he shouldn't be criticized or punished.

How did the French Federation win you over?

Their best technique was organizing a training session for me on my birthday with Ladji Doucouré [former 110 m hurdles world champion in Helsinki, 2005]. Thanks to what I'd learned technically to improve my runs, I then set the cadet world record, improving by three-tenths of a second. I thought: "Ah! Imagine where 50 sessions could take me..." I told them that if Ladji became my coach, I'd definitely come to France.

How does your duo with Ladji Doucouré work?

When I was in Australia, I knew him from the footage of his races. I knew nothing of his story. We had to get to know each other.

We're now really close and have a relationship based on trust. We each have our egos, but not one is stronger than the other's. He respects me as much as I respect him. We're not in the classic relationship where a coach commands and the athlete complies. It's a collaboration because, despite my youth, I have a lot of ideas and I'm very familiar with my discipline.

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