Like fine wine, Olympian Charles Philibert-Thiboutot improves over the years.
Eight years after Philibert-Thiboutot had his best career performance at a Diamond League event in Monaco, Philibert-Thiboutot broke his 1500m mark last Saturday at Montesson in the Paris suburb. His time of 3 minutes, 33 and 54 seconds gives him the benchmark for the World Championships, which will be held in Budapest, Hungary from August 19th to 27th. The standard required by World Athletics is 3 minutes 34 seconds 20.
“Eight years later, at the highest level, it almost never happens to beat a personal best,” said his coach Félix-Antoine Lapointe. You don’t break your personal record until you’re 30. Charles thwarted the statistics.”
The hope is still alive
Returning to Paris after two training sessions at the National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (INSEP), the 2016 Rio Olympics athlete says he never lost hope.
“I would have quit a long time ago if I thought it wasn’t possible to beat my personal best,” he affirmed. There were difficult years (2017, 2018 and 2019) when I had doubts because I suffered from serious injuries, but the indicators of the last two years showed that I could do it. The conditions weren’t right and that created frustration. I’m relieved that I was able to prove my level.
Philibert-Thiboutot was floating on a cloud as he crossed the finish line. “I was overwhelmed with so much joy and can’t remember being so happy after a race,” he said. This achievement shows that living those less-than-perfect years were worth living and erases any disappointments. That’s why sport is so beautiful.”
Philibert-Thiboutot agrees that the statistics did not suggest such a result. “At my age it’s rather rare to build a personal brand. Runners my age are changing careers, retiring, or in decline. In my case, I’ve set personal bests in the 1000m, 5000m, 10,000m and the mile for the past two years. Everything indicated that I was better than before and it feels good to confirm everything. I’m in better shape than I was in 2015 when I had my record of 3:34:23.
world championship standard
With his standard in place, Philibert-Thiboutot can now focus on his preparation for the Nationals and World Championships instead of chaining the races together. “I will be racing in Nancy next Sunday before returning to Quebec for four weeks of intensive training to be ready for the British Columbia Nationals at the end of July. The goal is to reach the World Finals, which I narrowly missed out on last year.
While some have expressed doubts about his chances of success in the 1500m and believed he would focus on the 5000m, Philibert-Thiboutot has no plans to change the event.
“I might run about 5000m, but it’s clear that my favorite event for the World Cup and Paris Games 2024 is the 1500m.”