The boxing events at the Olympic Games will take place in Villepinte. Training has already started in Tremblay-en-France for the French and Cuban boxers. So when Luis Mariano Gonzalez, the Cuban coach of the French team at the Olympic Games, arrives in Villepinte, at Les Mousseaux college, the students’ questions burst out… in Spanish:
“Why did you choose to come to France? Did your parents support you when you decided to become a boxer? Have you been the victim of discrimination? How many women have you coached? What is your favorite food ? »
Very focused, very mobile, very playful, the coach of the French Olympic boxing team pays special attention to each student. As in a boxing ring, this former boxer takes a step towards the student to better answer him. The students then ask him what he felt during the very first participation in the Olympic Games: “- This is the most important tournament for a coach. They say that when you get there, you get to another world. This is where you meet all the world and Olympic champions. You have lunch, you dine with all the greats. You have to stay focused, it’s difficult.”
The latter started boxing at the age of eight in Cuba, trained 38 junior world champions in his career and won gold, silver and bronze medals at the Olympic Games in 2008 with the French team, championship titles of the world with Tony Yoka, Estelle Mossely, Sofiane Oumiha… Despite his impressive track record, his young audience is not won over to him in advance. Lucas, 15, only has eyes for NBA basketball, Darell does not practice any sport, even if he intends to attend a few events at the Games. Arrived at the stadium, when the coach distributes the yellow tennis balls to work on the coordination of movements, speed, positions and then the boxing gloves to work on the touch, the students follow in his footsteps. “His level, his appearance, how he does the exercises, you can see he’s used to it. It makes me want to box. »
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