He improved to 10.11 at a meeting in Nancy, France in June, achieving the A standard qualifying time for the 2009 World Championships in Berlin later that year.

[3] Despite finishing out of the medals in fourth in the 100 m, he set a personal best of 20.67 seconds in the 200 m to take bronze at the 2009 European Team Championships.

[4] He competed in three events at the 2009 World Championships: he finished sixth in the 100 metres semi-finals, the second best performance by a European after finalist Dwain Chambers.

He was eliminated at that stage, although he ran faster than compatriot David Alerte who did reach the final via the other semi-final.

At the 2010 European Athletics Championships, Mbandjock had a significant breakthrough, winning bronze medals in both the 100 m and 200 m, as well as a gold in the relay – although his achievements were somewhat overshadowed by his compatriot Christophe Lemaitre, who won all three races.