“Quique, do you believe it now or not yet?” Prensa Ibérica asked the Valencian Llopis just before the Games at the CAR in Sant Cugat. “Yes, well, I’m starting to believe it, of course,” replied the athlete from Playas de Castellón, slightly raising his head and without losing a humility that is sometimes difficult to understand.
Llopis is one of the great stars of Spanish athleticsThe runner-up in the 110-metre hurdles at the last European Championships in Rome has arrived in Paris without any complexes and has qualified through the front door for a very expensive final.
The meaningless draws that are being carried out in these Games had placed the Valencian in the same series as the first two in the ranking, the world champion and second of all time. Grant Holloway and current Olympic champion Hansle Parchment.
With two places for time in each of the three races plus two more for the best times, Llopis started in second position behind the American and knew how to maintain his frequency to prevent the Jamaican’s comeback from unseating him. In another league, Holloway won with 12.98, followed by the Spaniard with 13.17 and by Parchment with 13.19.
Only Holloway could beat Quique Llopis / AP
He lost his usual calm and composure as soon as he saw his name appear in second place. He had done it! Quique Llopis already had the Olympic diploma and now he will fight in the final on equal terms against all his rivals except for an untouchable Holloway unless he suffers some mishap.
Navarrese Asier Martínez could not accompany him to the last round of the Games who has returned to the top level this season after a very difficult 2023. The bronze medallist at the 2022 Eugene World Championships and European champion in 2022 made very good progress in the final metres and was fifth with 13.35.
2024-08-07 17:32:53
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