Ivorian sprinter, Marie-Josée Ta Lou suffered yet another near miss, this time on the podium, in the women’s 100m final at the World Championships in Budapest.

The 2017 World Championship silver medalist over the same distance, narrowly finished 4th, behind Sha’Carri Richardson, Shericka Jackson and Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Ta Lou, who has gained a reputation for always being so close, but never winning, was inconsolable after the race.

She, however, admitted in an exclusive interview with Joy Sports editor Fentuo Tahiru, that she is much better now and fully focused on the women’s 200m semifinals after crying all night on Monday.

“It’s really hard because year after year my body feels different. But I thank God in everything,” she said.

“This has been one of my favourite seasons, even though I didn’t win the 100m final.

“I’m now focused on the 200m, the relays and the Diamond League meetings after this.

“Mentally, I’m good now, but that wasn’t the case on Monday and Tuesday when I cried all night,” she added.

Ta Lou will be up against two of her conquerors in the 100m, Sha’Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson, in the 200m on Thursday.