Sprinter Samuel Vessat becomes the third Frenchman under 45 seconds in the 400 meters

Sprinter Samuel Vessat became the third Frenchman to go under 45 seconds over 400 m, completing the lap yesterday in 44’94” during a university competition in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States. For his return to the distance, the 23-year-old athlete, who studies and trains at Purdue University in Indiana, joins, with this time, Leslie Djhone (44’46” in 2007) and Marc Raquil (44’79” in 2003). This is the first time since 2010 that a Frenchman has gone under 45 seconds over 400m.

Vessat, who only really started athletics in 2024 after shining in basketball, is experiencing meteoric progress. He had already made a name for himself this winter by repeatedly lowering the French indoor discipline record to bring it to 45’30” and take 6th place in the final of the first division of the very tough NCAA university championships.