Sasha Zhoya has once again proved why he has fans across the globe. He did not let his fans face disappointment even in this season of the Grand Slam Track 2025. By bagging a silver in the 110m hurdles by clocking 13.34, he once again proved that he is no less than his idol, Usain Bolt.
Similar to the Jamaican legend, Zhoya also had dreams of being the best athlete that everyone remembers. His journey for athletics began at the tender age of 8, when he was coached by his mother. Fast-forward to today; in his bid to be the best, he has received support from the top coaches. But ever since he planned to compete for France at international platforms, he joined Ladji Doucouré, who is the supervisor of the sprint-hurdles group of the French Athletics Federation at INSEP. So, read on to know more about Ladji, whose supervision has helped Zhoya to become a hurdle star.
Who is Ladji Doucouré?
Ladji Doucouré is a French sprint sensation who has shattered various records and bagged a gold medal in the World Championship in 110 m hurdles in 2007. Born to Malian and Senegalese roots, Doucouré pivoted from decathlon and soccer dreams to become Europe’s hurdling king, competing in three Olympic Games and nearly grabbing bronze in Beijing 2008. But wait, there is more to his story. He not just specializes in hurdling and sprinting, but he was also a football player and a decathlete.
And Doucouré’s journey goes beyond sports. He is also popular among the people for his community services. He is dedicatedly trying to promote athletics among youngsters of the marginalized community through the Golden Blocks association. In 2017, he participated in the Caravan for Peace in Senegal, where he was on a three-day trip to inspire youth in remote areas. He met children, families, and local associations and tried providing material support to them.
Ladji Doucouré Career Highlights and Achievements
Doucouré has seen a lot of memorable moments in his career which shows his talent and his passion towards athletics. While one of the most important moment of his career came when he bagged a gold in 60, hurdles in 2005 European Indoor Championships. However, he had shown his exceptional speed in 2004 Olympics. In the initial rounds he was the fastest in 110m hurdles, but a mishap in the final round made him reach the finish line on the eighth position.
Another remarkable moment in his career came when he made history by running the 110 m hurdles in 12.97 seconds at the French Athletics Outdoor Championships in Angers. Through this race, he became the first French athlete to break the 13-second barrier. He has also won gold medal in 4X100m relay race in World Champions in 2005, thus showcasing his ability to perform both individually and as part of a team.
At this point, Doucouré’s most notable student is Sasha Zhoya, whom he has been training since 2019. Doucouré always appreciates the talent of Zhoya but wants him to be consistent to become an extraordinary talent. “Sasha is incredibly talented, but talent alone isn’t enough. What matters now is consistency, humility, and hard work — and I know he’s got it in him,” he once said when Zhoya was eliminated from the semi-finals of the 110m hurdles world championship.
It seems Zhoya has kept the words of his trainer well, and under the technical guidance and firsthand experience in elite competition, he is achieving great heights.
The post Who is Sasha Zhoya’s Coach? Meet Olympian Coach and Former World Champion Ladji Doucouré appeared first on EssentiallySports.
