Prodigious talent Zhoya to headline Maurie Plant Meet - Melbourne
Published Mon 29 Jan 2024
Athletics prodigy Sasha Zhoya is set to hit Australian shores next month, as the sprint hurdles sensation and face of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games adds further star-power to the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne on Thursday, February 15.
With an impressive collection of accolades including the 2021 World Junior championship and 2023 European Under 23 title, the 21-year-old has chosen Melbourne as the destination to kick off his Olympic campaign, which will culminate in Paris.
Announced with less than three weeks to go, Zhoya’s inclusion in the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne will be his first circuit appearance in Australia since 2021, and the Perth-born star has clear intentions to make an impression worldwide, as he makes this season another one for the history books.
“It’s about time I come back and race at home! It’s the preparation that I need, being in an environment I know so well, with a certain accent that I’ve missed hearing over these couple of years. I haven’t been more excited for something,” Zhoya said.
Zhoya’s name resonates across continents for his multi-faceted talent. As a 16-year-old in Australia, the prodigious talent ran a world-best time of 13.05 in the 110m Hurdles (99.0cm – junior height) at the 2019 Australian Athletics Championships and followed up with the Men’s Under 20 Pole Vault title with an Under 18 world best of 5.56m.
Born to a French mother and father from Zimbabwe, the versatile talent pledged his allegiance to France in 2020, with the added incentive of making his Olympic debut in front of an adoring home crowd.
The young athlete's inclusion in Oceania’s one and only World Athletics Continental Tour Gold level meet continues Australia’s new chapter in athletics, as he faces an Australian line up consisting of world championships representatives Jacob McCorry and Nick Andrews, as well as World Under 20 Championships finalists Mitch Lightfoot and Tayleb Willis.
With a personal best of 13.15 at the World Athletics Championships last year, faster than the 13.27 Olympic qualifying standard, Zhoya’s prowess will only lift the stakes, with McCorry stating:
“As athletes, we want to race the best in the world. Sasha is without question one of the best in the business. He’ll lift the level of the meet to where we want it to be, and no doubt push all of us to our best.
“Personally, I love to compete and to race a class field will be exciting. I’m looking forward to seeing how my form evolves over the domestic circuit one step at a time.”
As Melbourne gears up to witness a clash of athletics titans, tickets for the Maurie Plant Meet are now on sale, offering fans an exclusive opportunity to witness history on the eve of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
The Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne is supported by World Athletics and the Victorian Government via Visit Victoria and part of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series. The meet will be streamed live and free on Seven’s digital platform, 7plus.
Sasha Zhoya (France)
- World Under 20 Champion (2021)
- European Under 23 Champion (2023)
- European Under 20 Champion (2021)
- 6th place at the 2023 World Athletics Championships (2023)
- 2 x National Champion (France)
- Personal best – 13.15
- DOB 25 June 2002
By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 29/1/2023
