Long-jumper Fabrice Lapierre vows to spearhead track and field medal hopes

LONG-jumper Fabrice Lapierre has vowed to step up and take over from injured hurdler Sally Pearson as Australia’s best chance to claim athletics gold.

NO Sally. No worries.

That’s the message long-jumper Fabrice Lapierre has for those who are concerned about Australia’s track and field medal hopes without 2012 Olympic champion Sally Pearson.

Rather than be daunted by the expectation, the 33-year-old is confident he is the man to beat in Rio.

“I don’t know what everyone else thinks but in my opinion I’m not worried about anyone else,” Lapierre said.

“I do think I can do it and I’m going in there with that mentality of ‘Yeah, I’m going out there to win, I believe I am going to win’.

“It’s a good feeling to know that Australia is looking to me for a medal, I love that and I thrive off it.

“I have only been to one Olympics but going to major championships is what I love, it’s my favourite thing, especially when I am in great shape and the right head space, I really look forward to it.

Fabrice Lapierre and walker Jared Tallent are Australia’s best medal hopes with Sally Pearson missing Rio because of injury.

“I’m happy to go out there representing Australia and get that medal that they want.”

Lapierre and walker Jared Tallent are Australia’s best medal hopes with Pearson missing Rio because of injury.

Four years ago Lapierre was at the crossroads but since he joined renowned American coach Dan Pfaff and moved to his training base in Phoenix, Arizona, his career has been ignited.

Last year he finished second at the Beijing world championships and also took silver at the world indoor championships in March.

“Life is just completely different,” Lapierre said.

“Four years ago I didn’t have a team, it was basically just me.

“Back then I was injured a lot and was just trying to get to any kind of meet I could and try and jump some kind of distance.

Fabrice Lapierre’s best jump this season is 8.31m.

“Now I know where I am going. Last year I guess in a way was a development year, this year is my second year with Dan and he always told me that the second year was going to be a lot better than the first year.

“I am just so much more confident that I was last year.

“I’m basically at the peak right now where I’m performing the best I have in this last month of training.”

Lapierre, the 2010 world indoor champion, has been consistently on the podium throughout the Diamond League with his season best of 8.31m coming in Rabat, Morocco, in May.

He admits to wondering what might have been if he’d made the move to Pfaff earlier in his career but doubts if he would have had the maturity to handle such a move.

“We’ve talked about that but I also think it happened for a reason,” Lapierre said.

“I had to learn as a younger athlete and if Dan had saw me then it might not have worked out.

“I think how it was back then has actually helped me out, to experience the difference and appreciate it more.”

Originally published as Long-jumper Fabrice Lapierre vows to spearhead track and field medal hopes