The roles have changed somewhat. Four years ago, Charlotte Bonnet, bronze medalist in 2012 in the 4x200m relay, was the major figure in French swimming in Rio. A bit alone, by the way, and she was ranked 8e in the 200m freestyle, a performance lost in the tricolor swimming slump in Brazil.
In Japan, the Niçoise retains her executive status – she is playing her third Olympics – but Marie Wattel enters next to her in full light and raises more expectations (read our edition of yesterday).
It doesn’t matter, basically, for the 26-year-old Frenchwoman, who has never really tried to be on the front line. She, for five years, has not deviated from her line of conduct and kept her habits of a hard worker alongside Fabrice Pellerin, in Nice. If for five years, the first part of her Olympiad has been excellent (three gold medals at the 2018 European Championships in the 200 freestyle, the 4×100 women’s freestyle and the 4×100 mixed freestyle), her second part was more delicate. For three years, therefore, the one who passed through CN Brest during her youth has won nothing at the international level.
“She never really regained her level of 2018 », Confirms Sophie Kamoun, former swimmer (finalist in the 1984 Olympics) now consultant for RMC, but above all advisor and friend of Charlotte Bonnet.
READ ALSO. Olympic Games 2021. The Blue program for Monday July 26
Several factors can explain this descending phase. First a shoulder injury, in 2019, the first real stop of his career. “She was embarrassed for six months, that’s a long time! this Sophie Kamoun. Unconsciously, behind, she had to regain confidence in her physique, it did not happen overnight. “
Three years ago, she also made the choice to focus more on speed and power with her trainer. This choice took a long time to pay off. And when the Niçoise finally seemed to return to an excellent level, confinement then arrived. New loss of reference points.
Driven by
Philippe Lucas in Tokyo
“This season did not really reassure her then, says Sophie Kamoun. E lthe never went below 1’56 ” on the 200m. “ Charlotte Bonnet showed consistency, but seemed to chase after her Olympic qualification for much of the year. “She wanted to pick up her ticket very early. She first missed it for two hundredths, it didn’t do it by a bit, and then, I had the feeling that nervously, she left a lot of influx ”, to finally steal his ticket to the French championships.
Fourth at the European Championships in April, she arrived in the unknown in Japan. What can she really aim for in 100 and 200m? A place in the final, probably over 200 m, his preferred distance. But the competition will be tougher than over 100m. “She is there to have fun, without pressure, admits Kamoun. These are already his third Games, in swimming it is not nothing… ”
In Tokyo, Charlotte Bonnet will not be with Fabrice Pellerin. His mentor from Nice did not want to make the trip because of the Covid. Consequence: the Southerner has chosen to be supported by Philippe Lucas, the former coach of Laure Manaudou. “Philippe always has the word just before a competition, it could have an impact on Charlotte”, hopes Sophie Kamoun. “I didn’t want to be without a coach, explains Bonnet. The feeling goes well with him, we haven’t spoken very often so far, but I appreciate him and I feel that it was quite natural to choose him. He can bring me a lot, he already brings me. “
Enough to get an individual medal? Charlotte Bonnet starts from quite a distance, anyway.
– .
