Raphael Holzdeppe is the 2013 World Champion in the pole vault, having upset Renaud Lavillenie in Moscow.
After that meeting, he went into that cold corner of hell in our sport known as injury.
For nearly two years, Raphael battled injuries, and it stung him deeply. He lost, perhaps, some of his confidence.
Well, the ebullience is not all of the way back, but Mr. Holzdeppe is back. He had some fine jumping, two strong meetings in a row, with a 5.85m, and a 5.92m!
In the presser on Friday, July 3, Raphael was relaxed and fun, speaking about what was missing from his jumping and how he is more guarded this year, in terms of competitions.
A talent, one of the few people who can challenge le roi de la perche, Raphael Holzdeppe will be fun to watch in the Meeting AREVA.