Althéa Laurin, the new French star of taekwondo, once again climbed the stairs this Thursday. Not those of a podium in Tokyo, but those leading to the stage installed on the Place du Trocadéro in Paris (16th century), throughout the duration of the Olympic Games, at the initiative of the French Olympic Committee and the organizers of the 2024 Games. The very recent bronze medalist is the first decorated French athlete to attend.
All smiles, wrapped in a blue-white-red flag as during her success on the tatami of Makuhari Messe against her Ivorian opponent, she returned to her Olympic experience with the greatest of serenity. In total adequacy with the image sent to the whole world during its fights in more than 67 kg. “The first laps are always those where the pressure is overwhelming, and as the competition progresses we discover more strength and courage, therefore more calm,” she confides. She then admits that she was lucky somewhere. Because if the pandemic had not resulted in the postponement of one year of the Olympics, history might have been written differently. “I don’t think I would have been part of the federal project, because I was too young (Editor’s note: she was born in September 2001), she notes. The qualifying tournament would have happened prematurely and I would certainly have lacked experience ”.
She then joined her small group of fans, for a photo shoot and autograph, and especially her 17-year-old little brother, Kenjy, a surprise guest at the event. She has also found her family cocoon since Wednesday evening to find her bearings and celebrate her medal. And this Thursday evening, she does it again. “We are all going to get together to celebrate my medal, even though we have already started well,” she smiles. The hardest part for her was her separation from her family. “But in the end, it was worth it,” she adds.
As the French athletes participating in the Games must leave Japan 48 hours after the end of their events, most of them will come to the Trocadéro as soon as they return to Paris.
