Tuesday, Michel Claverie leave Reunion Island where his girlfriend he spends six months a year, to reach Perth. At 86 years, the Tarbes do not share in Australia for sightseeing, but to compete in the world championships of athletics veterans. One year after the money on 100 m - hence its nickname "Silver Bolt" - and bronze in the 200m at the World Championships in Lyon , the octogenarian will follow the same distances, on 29 October and 1 November, in 85-89 years category. With a clear preference for the first.

"When I was little, I had asthma and returned with the sport, he said. I have less and less of breath. Run 100 or 150 meters, okay, but I struggled to finish on 200 m. "With reference time of 17 seconds, the Bigourdan is second among the twelve committedby the Australian Coffey (16'30) and the Japanese Tanaka (15'71).

Wounded and "somewhat in doubt"

But it was his body that worried. "I have tendinitis groin, says Michel Claverie. I am a little in doubt. "" I told Michael not to put pressure says Dehviany Joany, President ofAGC Saint-Pierre , Reunion club where Tarbes is currently licensed. He always wants to be first. This is an example of performance and longevity. "
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Yet the "gold digger" does not crowd the dirt tracks since his youth. If fumbled rugby, martial arts, tennis and beach tennis , his discovery of athletics is fairly recent. "This goes back a decade, said the former soldier converted the commercial arrival quarantine at Larousse. I've heard of veterans events. It seemed that after a certain age, there were more than competitive sport. I looked at the time, that seemed affordable. I quickly ran in my youth. I said, "let's go". "

Michel Claverie alongside his coach Dominique Vendôme, who will attend the World Championships in Perth, Australia. - J. Dehviany / CAG Saint-Pierre

Here's how, the then septuagenarian learned the technique of the sprint. Today, he trains three times a week under the auspices of Dominique Vendôme , "youngster" of 42, who also will play the Australian World Championships, in the 40-44 category."I run as fast as during the championships of France in Brittany, five years ago", says the octogenarian strong character.

He accuses his Japanese opponent of doping

"It is demanding and does not let go, emphasizes its president Dehviany Joany. At the end of the drive, if it is not satisfied with him, he must at all costs that it resume at the next meeting. It also is very careful about his lifestyle. "" I do not smoke and I have no extra kilos, "says Michel Claverie, who has struggled to digest its defeat 100m in 2015 in Lyon.


"I was beaten by a two-year Japanese older than me who was running for Brazil recalls the bigourdan athlete. He passed me in the last 15 meters, but I think he was doped ... "The famous Yoshiyuki Shimizu (also titled the 200m, 400m, triple jump and silver in the long jump!) Will be out in Australia where "Silver Bolt" dream to adorn themselves with gold. Finally, if his body left in peace.