The memories go back to the middle of the 2000s, but Patrick Méry has not forgotten anything of his first randoris with Clarisse Agbégnénou, when, teenager, the most successful fighter in French judo attended the France pole of Orleans. “She hit you in the face when she was only a junior,” testifies the departmental technical advisor, as if he still physically felt the impact of the brand new Olympic champion under 63 kg. “She was already super strong”, continues the former winner of the European Cup of clubs, with the USO.
“She was hitting you in the face when she was only a junior.”
Patrick Mery (Departmental technical advisor)
“Clarisse had entered the margins, amuses to remind Franck Decroix, at the France pole for fifteen years; coach first, now responsible. We only take juniors; she was a second year junior. A friend, a teacher at the Asnières club, had sold it to me. And as there were still places at the Lycée Voltaire, I told him to come for a test… “
A phenomenal progression
Even though he was convinced of the potential of the Île-de-France champion of -57 kg, Franck Decroix made “a deal with his mother: Clarisse, who was not very involved in her education, had to do a minimum “. Here again, memory invites us to smile. “Clarisse has made small efforts, but her sporting progress has been exponential. Beyond our expectations. In nine months, she became the junior European champion; a year later, she was junior French champion; and the following year, French D1 champion! The youngest of all time! “
“What I have not found in the others is this desire not to just win, but to destroy your opponent!”
The record that Clarisse Agbégnénou has built since can only confirm the predictions of the two technicians: European and world champion five times, Olympic champion now, she is, at 28, the female equivalent of Teddy Riner. “Already at the time, she hated losing, sees Franck Decroix again. Even jogging with me! And what I have not found in others is this desire not to just win, but to destroy your opponent. ! “
Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde
“But it’s a super, very nice girl, insists Patrick Méry. Every time I meet her, especially at the Paris Tournament, she always hisses me. She does not hide her true nature: when she takes the Slovenian in her arms, after the Olympic final, it is very sincere. “” Everyone loves Clarisse, adds Franck Decroix, aware of her double personality, Doctor Jekyll here, Mister Hyde there. She is very sociable, very human. She has friends all over the world.“
Mado Malonga too?
If they have seen it pass, champions in the making, and if they have contributed to their emergence, Franck Decroix and the France pole of Orleans could this Thursday, July 29 again be proud of another success: that of Mado Malonga, the world number 1 in -78 kg; the very one that pushed Audrey Tcheuméo into the shadows. Audrey Tcheuméo who, by the way, had been recruited in 2016 by US Orléans rather than a certain… Clarisse Agbégnénou.
Pascal Bourgeais
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