Overview
- Cyréna Samba‑Mayela announced she has declared forfait for the European Athletics Championships after persistent physical pain left her preparation too disrupted to compete.
- She said the choice followed medical advice and was taken in agreement with her training team and the French Athletics Federation.
- The 25‑year‑old had shown signs of a comeback, posting a 12.50 time in Texas in June, but she missed the Paris meeting and the French championships at Albi because of ongoing issues.
- France will now contest the women’s 100m hurdles in Birmingham with Sacha Alessandrini and Laëticia Bapté stepping into the national entries.
- A European champion and Paris‑2024 Olympic silver medallist who holds the French record (12.31), Samba‑Mayela said she will focus on rehabilitation with the aim of returning to top form, a development that reshapes France’s medal prospects in the event.