Last September in Martigues, Barbara Barthet added three new world champion bowling titles in progressive shooting, relay shooting and mixed relay shooting to her record. Although little known in France, this lifelong sportswoman campaigns for greater recognition of her sport and her high-level athletes.
Getting involved is not a problem for Barbara Barthet. It is as a leader of her discipline that she defended the place of her sport at the Paris Games in 2024. An appearance at the Parisian Olympiad would have allowed the bowls sport to be better known in France. This refusal, she experienced it as ” Disappointment. There was a huge motivation, and it flew away. It was a huge opportunity for us, which could finally have allowed the French to discover our sport. Unfortunately, we won’t have that chance and I don’t think there will ever be a better chance. “
Despite 40,000 licensees within the Federation, the Lyon ball is still very little known in France. Its top-level athletes do not endorse the status of professional athlete. A lack of legitimation that is still not understood for the 27-year-old world champion: “For my foreign friends who practice in China, Italy, Turkey, Slovenia or Croatia, it’s different, in their country bowling is more important. “
A high level figure
Coming from a sporting family, Barbara Barthet, a three-time World medalist this fall, also experienced high standards in judo and high jump. But, at 15, he
had to make a choice. After the black belt in judo, the French athletics championships, she finally decided to continue the sport-boules. This choice is that of the heart. But she also owes it to her mother’s advice. “As a judo coach, she advised me not to continue. My morphology was not the best for a high level practice. “
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“You will see at 15, you will no longer practice bowling”
Trainings every day and matches every Sunday. It’s the rhythm of Barbara Barthet to be able to be at her best level. Bowls sport requires both technical and physical work. “Jogging is a must for this sport. “ Her stepfather, thanks to whom she discovered the discipline, is her daily coach. He is one of her sources of inspiration and motivation.
When she talks about him, she always has this little anecdote in her head: “Around the age of 12, one day when we were in the car, he and I said to me: you will see at 15, you will no longer practice bowling. “ Today she reveals that “It is surely because of that that I continued and that I still continue today. To make him proud and, in a way, to prove him wrong. “ In addition to her busy sports schedule, Barbara Barthet works at the Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee of Ain as a development and communication agent. This job allows him to combine his professional life and his sports practice. She has no plans for the moment to stop her passion but wants to give a new turn to her life. Barbara Barthet wants to start building her family life.
Interview by Eva Chery
Photo credit: Barbara Barthet
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