Shock in judo for a case of sexist violence: “I thought I was going to die”

The reported aggression took place on Saturday night and the acquittal was pronounced on Tuesday by the Bobigny Correctional Court, which said he did not have sufficient evidence to prove his guilt.

Pinot, medalist in Tokyo with the mixed team of France, published an explanation of what happened on social networks and posted a photo of himself with a numb face and traces of blood.

The 27-year-old judoka complained that the “slanderous defense” of her partner had been above his injuries and “the blood on the floor of the apartment.” “During the night from Saturday to Sunday I was the victim of an assault at my home by my partner and coach. insulted, beaten, my head was hit against the ground several times and finally strangled, “he pointed out.

“I thought I was dead, I managed to escape to take refuge with my neighbors who immediately called the police. I have several injuries, including a broken nose … Today the courts decided to release him. What value is your slanderous defense against my wounds and the blood scattered on the floor of my apartment? What was missing, death, perhaps? “, Denounces Margaux Pinot.

Support from known judocas

Well-known French judokas also used the networks to transmit a common message of support and denounce the court’s decision, which has been appealed by the prosecution.

Among them, the also Olympic champion Teddy Riner, a legend in the country: “What must be done so that the victims are heard? Every day women, children or the most vulnerable face violence, be it physical or moral. It is intolerable. ”

In that message, also published by other members of the France team, such as Alexandre Iddir or Axel Clerget, it is emphasized that the fight against gender violence must become a priority.

“We must better accompany and protect the victims … It’s a matter of life and death“added Riner, who shared the photo of Pinot and stressed that” everyone is deeply affected by what his partner just suffered. ”

Schmitt gives his version

At the same time, Schmitt asked in an interview in the sports daily L’Équipe that the court decision be respected. “I’m sick of the slander. I thought that once justice was pronounced they would leave me alone. I receive messages of intimidation, death threats, “said the athlete, who this month announced that he had accepted a position as coach of the Israeli women’s team and on the night of the events he was about to travel to that country.

The publicó team a photo of him with a black eye and this highlights that the relationship with Pinot was “quite complicated”: “He does not know how to control his emotions,” he said in that newspaper, while in the audience, according to Ouest France, he pointed out that he had never hit a woman.