I didn't consider that it might be impressive. I think the headline on the whole is just a mildly interesting thing to hear, which most people would have missed (and many people would have forgotten about this French sprinter too). To me it's more kind of ironic that a group of losers deep into a uniquely American way of framing things is bothering a successful French guy who is probably going about his life, eating lunch or whatever. There may have been a big context switch for him and a disappointed "Wow" (but in French).