She had a big blow of the blues and did not hide it. Rare confessions of a high level athlete at the top of her art. The first confinement, the postponement of the Games, the lack of visibility on the resumption, on the maintenance or not of the Olympics … Clarisse Agbegnenou, 28, quadruple world champion, real chance of gold medal in Tokyo in -63 kg , experienced a little sporting depression. At the beginning of October, when she zapped France by teams in Brest, she confided to Ouest-France: “Not knowing where you’re going is complicated. Mentally, I have the impression of moving in the wrong direction… ” No need, she said at the time, to rush onto the tatami mats in competition.
During these months of doubts, the native of Rennes chose to preserve herself, in a way, to get away a little with her sport. After February and her victory at the Grand Slam in Paris, she first left to confine herself and clear her mind in Reunion. She returned to the metropolis, but we saw her especially far from judo. On TV in a muscle awakening show, on social networks doing yoga, boxing, or in various activities … She also announced that she was resuming her studies at HEC this year to become a life coach.
“We mustn’t let weariness set in”
At her side, her staff did not try to rush her. “When you have won everything like her, you are 2 meters away from looking for the only thing you are missing, and you go back, it’s very hard, considers Larbi Benboudaoud, responsible for women at the federation. So we decided to let go on certain things. The uncertainties we have at the moment are almost the worst, basically. So for us, it’s hard to be demanding when there are no carrots at the end… ”
It took a long time. Then, little by little, she got back to it. Already present this summer at federal training camps, she found her way back to training throughout the fall. Not yet as intensely as usual, and not always at Insep. “Psychologically, it’s been one more year to prepare for the Olympics, it’s very long, says Lucie Decosse, Olympic champion in 2012, now women’s coach. Weariness shouldn’t set in, that’s why at the start of the school year, Larbi allowed her to train differently, and elsewhere, to avoid routine. Maybe it will be a job for this year… ”“ The Olympics, that’s all that matters to her today, so there’s no point in starting off too quickly ”, says Larbi Benboudaoud.
“Maybe it will leave traces”
Here we are back when the good news about the Games begins to arrive (vaccine announced, successful tests for competitions in Tokyo in recent weeks). How will she be on the tatami this Friday? “Physically, technically, I have no doubts about this Euro, she will be present, she showed it in training, assures Lucie Decosse. It must be said that she continued to train physically throughout this time. And Clarisse is always on top when she’s into something. “” She is sharp, loose Larbi Benboudaoud. Clarisse is very professional, does not do things by halves, so she will be in good shape for this Euro. Judo level, everything should be fine… ”
But questions may remain, therefore, and they rather concern his ability to move forward mentally today. “She’s impressive from that point of view, so she should be fine, but how is she going to digest all this period of doubts?” It’s the unknown, admits Lucie Decosse. The former champion however thinks “That her presence at this Euro gives a first element of positive response on her motivation…” “If the horizon clears up, things should start again for her, but unfortunately, it can also leave traces, still fears Larbi Benboudaoud. In sport, nothing is ever taken for granted. “
The interested party, engaged on Friday, wanted to be positive in October: “I tell myself that there are obstacles in life, that maybe I will be even stronger after having resourced myself in this way. “ In recent days, she posted on social networks a photo of herself sitting in a plane next to Jonathan Cohen, the popular actor of the moment, actor in the hit series “The Flame” broadcast on Canal +. What if it was a sign? What if she had found it, the flame?
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