By Gregory Maucorps
Published on
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Sept champions from judo of the France team are at Mondevillenear Caen (Calvados)these Tuesday 1is and Wednesday, March 2, 2022, on the occasion of the event organized by the French Judo Federation “The route of champions”.
Olympic champions in Mondeville
They are Cécile Nowak (1992 Olympic champion in Barcelona), Guillaume Chaine (Olympic team champion in Tokyo in 2021), Cyrille Maret (3e at the Rio Olympics in 2016), Cathy Arnaud (1987 and 1989 world champion), Faïza Mokdar (2018, 2019 and 2020 European junior champion), Guy Delvingt (Winner of the 1982 Paris Tournament) and Romaric Bouda (champion of France 2019, licensed at Eure Judo).
This is the first of 20 stages across France, which will end in the Landes in mid-December. Interview with the Olympic champion Cecile Nowak.
News: The route of champions begins its 2022 campaign in Mondeville, near Caen. What are the objectives of this event?
Cecile Nowak: We had been doing Wednesdays for the France team for several years. The event has been revamped and now takes place over two days. It’s the first time we’ve been to Calvados. Judo has everything to please, it has a wide spectrum, it conveys values of sharing and solidarity. We have broadened our spectrum by introducing different audiences to judo: licensees, but also schools, disabled people or the elderly. In particular, we mentioned the prevention of falls at the Ehpad La Source in Mondeville.
“Judo is about sharing, living together”
What values do you want to convey?
C.N. : Judo is an educational sport, it is about sharing, living together and transmitting values. Many parents come to put their children in judo in relation to these values. Our goal is to introduce children to sport. Today in Mondeville, we don’t necessarily target judokas, but we want to pass on their passion for sport. We want to raise awareness of this Covid generation which has just lived through two special years. We are happy to meet again and practice a physical activity.
Olympic champion in 1992 in Barcelona, you paved the way for many judokas…
C.N. : In 1992, it was the first time that the judo competition was open to women. Before, there had been exhibitions in Seoul (in 1988). With Cathy Fleury (another gold medalist in 1992), we opened a door in Barcelona. We set foot to leave it open. Judo brought back 7 medals from Barcelona, including four from the girls. It is a source of pride to have made it possible to launch women’s judo. At the time, there were a lot of prejudices. This made it possible to “break” the clichés, to show that it is a mixed sport and it is a point of pride. Today, 30% of judokas are women, we must continue.
“We really have the means to get more medals in Paris”
How did you experience the great results of the Tokyo Olympics and how do you see the future, with the Paris 2024 Olympics in particular in your sights?
C.N. : Tokyo was quite exceptional! We showed that we had a great French team by beating the Japanese in particular at home by team. Luka (Mkheidze, bronze medalist) was not necessarily expected, but he opened a breach and showed others that it was possible. But we can do even better. We have good structures, we have a great French team, we have everything to win the Paris Olympics. If we don’t seize this opportunity in 2024, it’s because we won’t have been good. We really have the means to get even more medals.
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