Former pole vault champ Lavillenie says Brazil crowd booed him

AFTER losing the pole vault final to local Brazilian Thiago Braz da Silva, Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie made a bizarre comparison to Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

FALLEN Olympic pole vault champion Renaud Lavillenie has accused the Brazilian crowd of bad sportsmanship after they booed him as he duelled with Thiago Braz da Silva for the gold medal.

Da Silva captured his country’s second gold medal of the Games when he cleared 6.03m in a dramatic showdown to claim the title and send the crowd inside the Olympic stadium into a frenzy.

The 22-year-old made the clearance with his second jump which forced Lavillenie to have a crack at 6.08m to reclaim his title.

France's Renaud Lavillenie says he was booed during the final.

This was when the crowd became involved, booing loudly as the Frenchman was on the runway.

Afterwards Lavillenie likened the reception to what Jesse Owens had to deal with back in 1936 at the Berlin Olympic Games where the black American was subject to vicious racial taunting.

“In 1936 the crowd was against Jesse Owens. We’ve not see this since. We have to deal with it,” Lavillenie said.

“For the Olympics it is not a good image. I did nothing to the Brazilians.

“I feel a little unlucky. The bar fell from nothing at 6.03. I’ll be back to win the gold back.”

Da Silva’s extraordinary rise to national hero wasn’t expected given he came into the competition with moderate form.

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The former world junior champion failed to get out of qualifying at last year’s world championships in Beijing with his previous personal best 5.93m.

But with the emotion of performing in front of his home ground, Da Silva produced one of those rare moments which will forever be remembered in Olympic history.

“I am very happy,” he said.

“We worked really hard for this moment — not for the gold but to take a medal. For Brazil, it is amazing. I try to do my best for the people, they believe in us.

“It’s incredible. My first time over six metres. My home town wanted me to win.

Thiago Braz da Silva managed to outjump everyone else to claim gold in front of home fans.

“The crowd were cheering me too much. I had to fix my mind on my technique, forget the people.

“For me this is a happy day and for Brazilians. My family are really happy, it’s beautiful. (The crowd) 100% (helped) I tried not to lose.

“The people, the crowd, it was a big emotions. First time for me and in Brazil to get a gold medal.”

Brazil’s only other gold of the Games was won by Rafaela Silva in the women’s judo.

Lavillenie — the world record holder at 6.16m — also lost his Olympic record of 5.97m which he set at London four years ago.

Jesse Owens surrounded by press photographers after winning the 100m sprint at the Berlin games in 1936.

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Originally published as Former pole vault champ Lavillenie says Brazil crowd booed him