Patrizia van der Weken missed out on a place in the 100-metre semi-final at the World Athletics Championships on Saturday with a time of 11.29 seconds.

After missing out on a place in the 100m semi-final at the World Athletics Championships on Saturday, Patrizia van der Weken gave an honest interview reflecting on the race and on recent months.

Luxembourg’s 2024 Sportswoman of the Year said she knew she was capable of running much faster than she managed in the heats, but admitted that the past few months had not gone to plan.

Following a strong Olympic year and an excellent indoor season, the 25-year-old sprinter had set herself ambitious targets for the outdoor season.

A series of minor physical problems, however, disrupted training and prevented her from following the programme she had mapped out with her coach. Her own determination, she added, had kept her from taking a break sooner and instead she pushed through to the end of the season.

Now, van der Weken said, it is time to rest before preparations begin again in October.

Her focus is already on the European and World Indoor Championships. In the meantime, she will remain in Tokyo for a few more days, with further engagements and to support fellow Luxembourgers Charel Grethen and Ruben Querinjean in their races, before taking some time to enjoy the city.

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