France prides itself as much as any nation on its ability to never let life get it down. C’est la vie is a globally recognized phrase for “that’s life.” The French also like to shrug their shoulders and say bof a lot, in what is the most succinct expression of “Whatever man, just roll with it” in the world.
Heroic French race walker maybe pooped his pants, collapsed, then finished a 50k race
Yohann Diniz finished eighth in the 50-kilometer race walk Friday, but the fact that he finished at all makes him a hero.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
French race walker Yohann Diniz’s 50-kilometer race walk Friday embodied his nation’s indifference to adversity. The world record walker somehow finished the race in eighth place despite every reason to stop.
In fact, when Diniz appeared to poop his shorts early in the race, it spurred his efforts. Through 30 kilometers, he had a commanding lead of about a minute and a half that was increasing with each step.
But just as he was about to begin the last two-fifths of the race, he stopped in the shade of an awning, apparently suffering from stomach problems. He pulled a wet sponge out of the back of his shorts, then let race leader Evan Dunfree of Canada catch up to him. Diniz tried to walk with him, but then with a dozen kilometers remaining in the race, he collapsed.
Race walking is an easy sport to goof on, but its combined demands of endurance and perfect technique take an incredible toll on body and mind. Diniz had twice failed to finish the race at the Olympics. In 2008, he pulled out when he, again, had stomach pains around 30k. In 2012, he was disqualified for taking a water bottle outside of a designated area.
On Friday, the 38-year-old got up off the ground and finished the damn thing, well off his gold medal aspirations and probably not feeling well but otherwise fine. The important thing is he persevered, knowing that life has to go on even if you pooped yourself at the Olympics.
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