Lemaitre confident of defending his titles in Helsinki

French sprint sensation Christophe Lemaitre at the official European Athletics and Helsinki 2012 Local Organising Committee press conference in the Finnish capital on Tuesday.

It is some years since Europe had a 100m super-star, but in Helsinki on Tuesday morning, it was clear that it had one now.

The excitement as Christophe Lemaitre entered City Hall in the Finnish capital was palpable. Trailed by the sort of media scrum that only Usain Bolt is familiar with, the tall Frenchman took his seat for the presentation press conference of the 21st European Athletics Championships to the clatter of camera shutters.

The expectation is enormous surrounding the triple European champion who defends his 100m title at 7.45pm local time on Thursday in the 1952 Olympic stadium.

More relaxed with the press after two years of non-stop interest, Lemaitre insisted on answering all the
questions in halting English, but had no difficulty in expressing himself.

Given his recent 9.94w at the French championships, was he confident of defending his 100m title? 'I am, of course, very confident,' he said.

There had been some doubts as to whether he would also defend his 200m title and he was categorical that he would only do the short sprint and the relay.

'It is difficult to do the 200m as well because of the proximity of the Olympic Games, but I want to win with my team in the relay,' he insisted.

French baton changing is normally of a high standard and will be the team to beat, despite the presence of a strong British squad. 'The French have a good team, we work very hard at the relay and we think we can win it,' said Lemaitre.

That led on to the question of biennial championships for the first time in the history of European Athletics. This time round they have fallen in Olympic year: 'I think it is normal. The world championships take place every two years, so should the European championships. It's the same thing.'

Thrown the tricky question of defining his technique, the 22 year old answered: 'Each runner has his own technique. Mine is different, it is mine and I think I can run even faster with my technique.'

Though trailing clouds of glory now, Lemaitre's entrance on the senior international stage was not one he would wish to remember. In 2009 he was disqualified in the quarter finals of the world championships in Berlin for a false start.

But one year later in Barcelona he roared back to achieve a unique triple in the European championships and a star was born.

At the end of 2010 he received the official imprimatur when he was voted European Athletics Athlete of the Year.

Last year in the Daegu world championships, he was frustrated by his fourth place in the 100m, but came back for the 200m to clinch bronze.

In 2012, after a modest start to his Olympic season, recording 10.45 into a stiff headwind in his first outdoor outing, Lemaitre has steadily turned up the heat.

At the end of May he finished third behind two Jamaican giants of the modern era, world record holder Usain Bolt and former world record holder Asafa Powell.

Then in the final 100m before Helsinki, he clocked 9.94 at the French championships in Angers. It was with a favourable breeze measuring 2.6mps at his back, but the signs were encouraging.

There had been some talk in Angers about compatriot Jimmy Vicaut disturbing the status quo. But once Lemaitre had unfurled his slender frame the outcome was never in doubt. He was getting close to his lifetime best of 9.92 set last year and the signs were good.

It is all a far cry from his beginnings in the village of Belley when a local coach sensed there was a talent here to be nurtured and he was enrolled in the club of Aix les Bains. At the age of 15 he clocked 11.46, but already the following year he had gone under 11sec for 100m and 22.05 for 200m. He was on his way.

Now awaits a month of intense pressure, both on a European and world level. But Lemaitre gives every appearance of being able to handle it.