Sedjati wins third gold medal!

Algerian middle-distance runner Djamel Sedjati, who has shown irresistible form in the first two competitions of the 2024 Olympics, will be one of the favorites to win the Olympic title in the 800 meters, with the final to be held on Saturday (6:05 p.m. Algerian time) at the Stade de France, when his compatriot weightlifter Walid Bidani will aim for the podium in the category (+102 kg).

Sedjati (25), a leading figure in Algerian athletics, dreams of winning his first Olympic title in a major Olympic sport, knowing that the last contribution of an Algerian athlete at the Olympics dates back to the gold medal won by Taoufik Mekhloufi in the 1500 meters at the 2012 London Olympics.

Segati is the heavy favorite for the Olympic title, having dominated the Diamond League season last July with his best performance of the year and third-best time of all time (1:41.46), and made an excellent run to qualify for the 2024 Olympic 800m final on Friday morning, winning his semifinal easily with a time of (1:45.08).

“The final will feature eight of the best 800m runners, true champions with the same goal, which is to win a medal. I expect all scenarios to be a fight for the Olympic title in this undecided race,” Sedjati said in a statement to APS.

Indeed, the battle for the podium at the Stade de France on Saturday will be intense, with defending world champion Marco Arop of Canada also in fine form ahead of the final, as was Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who put in an unsettling performance in his semifinal win (1:43.32).

In addition to Arop and Vannini, other strong title contenders such as American Bryce Hoppel and British Max Bourgin will also be in the race.

Weightlifter Walid Bidani, the only Algerian representative in this sport at the 2024 Olympics, is ambitious to reach the podium in this category (+102 kg), despite the fierce competition in this sport of exceptional strength.

As the last Algerian athlete to join the Olympic Village, Bidani perfected his preparations in Turkey, where all the best weightlifters who qualified for the Olympics also completed their final training sessions before leaving for Paris.

“Our athlete prepared calmly in Turkey, under the leadership of coach Mohamed Benmiloud, in very good shape, he remains very focused and determined to succeed at the 2024 Olympics, his goal is to be on the podium.” APS is the Algerian Weightlifting Federation’s National Technical Director (DTN) Mohamed Bouabech.

In Paris, Bidani is competing in his fourth Olympics and he knows well his rivals on the podium, such as Georgian Rasha Talakhadze, Minasjan Go Tigran (naturalized Bahrain), Armenian Lalayan Varazdat and Iranian Ali Daoud.

“In this super heavyweight category, dedication depends on the small details and the athlete’s performance on the big day will determine his result, and for our athlete, the hope of a good performance is OK because, quite simply, Bidani has what it takes. The potential and the will to stand out,” DTN explained.

It should be remembered that Bidani (30) missed the last Tokyo Olympics because he tested positive for Covid-19 during a pre-match training session in Turkey a few days before the competition. He is one of the strong contenders for a medal in the +109 kg category at the Tokyo Olympics.

“The loss at the Tokyo Olympics is a thorn in his side and he plans to seize his chance in Paris to become the first Algerian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal,” DTN said.

At the Olympics, athletes who stand on the podium receive only one medal; the medal is for the total Olympic score (snatch and clean and jerk).

With two days to go until the end of the 2024 Olympic Games, Algeria has 46 athletes in 15 sports participating in the 33rd Olympic Games and currently ranks 53rd in the medal table thanks to the gold medal won by gymnast Kaylia Nemour in the high and low events. Bar.

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