With a season’s finest time of three:33.53, Charles Philibert-Thiboutot snagged a spot within the males’s 1,500m semi-final on the Paris Olympics on Saturday. He was despatched to the repechage spherical after ending 14th within the quickest warmth of the primary spherical of the occasion on Friday, giving him a second probability to maneuver on within the competitors. Philibert-Thiboutot efficiently battled to be one of many prime three males within the warmth to qualify for the semis on Sunday, securing second place.
“After the race I had yesterday, I did have some doubts, and I needed to overcome them at present,” he informed Canadian Working post-race. “Crossing the road, I used to be completely satisfied that I executed that completely and caught to my plan. I didn’t psych myself out after yesterday, I saved my nostril in it, and that’s why I’m so proud.”
That is Philibert-Thiboutot’s second Olympic Video games; after making the semi-final in Rio 2016, he narrowly missed qualifying for the Tokyo Video games in 2021, discovering himself simply two spots out of the world rating quota. “Races at this degree, probability does play an enormous position in who goes by way of and who doesn’t,” he says. “In races like that, the place issues string out, that’s the place I race my finest and the place I try. I can consider my type and operating properly.”
Though his second-place end within the spherical permits him to proceed dwelling out his Olympic dream, the Quebec native is completely satisfied, however not happy. “I’ve made each semi-final in my profession at each main championship,” the Quebec native stated post-race. “It’s not fairly the dream come true simply but, nevertheless it’s numerous strain off my shoulders.” The 33-year-old has additionally represented Canada and ran within the semi-finals on the World Championships in 2015, 2022 and 2023–this time, he has the aim to maneuver into the ultimate spherical.
“Tomorrow is one other race, and so tomorrow I’ll restart,” the 1,500m specialist says. With an excellent evening’s sleep, Philibert-Thiboutot will purpose to recuperate shortly to bounce again for an additional quick race. The boys who made it ahead immediately from the primary spherical (securing a prime six end of their warmth) could have the benefit of getting one much less race of their system heading into the semis. Regardless of the drawback, the Canadian continues to be able to deliver the warmth. “Possibly tomorrow I’ll set a PB, who is aware of?” he stated.
Philibert-Thiboutot’s teammate, Kieran Lumb, was additionally despatched to the repechage spherical, competing in warmth one. He took fifth in 3:35.76, and was unable to safe a qualifying spot.
The semi-final spherical begins on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 3:10 p.m. ET.
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Athletics occasions on the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games are going down from Aug. 1-11. At present’s protection is dropped at you by Canadian Working and New Steadiness Canada. Observe us on Twitter on Instagram for all issues Staff Canada and up-to-date unique information and content material.
