The sisters Alwena and Eleobane Le Coadou, licensed at the judo club Georges Bernanos, became on May 14 and 15, 2022 in Rijeka, Croatia, European Ju no Kata champions.
French champions, European champions, Normandy champions in several disciplines (Katame no kata, ju-jitsu ne-waza, sambo, also known as Soviet wrestling), the Havraises, Alwena (17) and Eleobane ( 19 years old) Le Coadou, licensed at the Georges Bernanos judo club, collect titles and medals. On May 14 and 15, 2022, in Rijeka (Croatia), they climbed to the top step of the podium at the European Ju no Kata Championship, a discipline which consists of linking techniques with your partner. “Fights are won by the number of pointsexplains Mikael Le Coadou, the coach and father of the girls. There are 12 techniques in total counting the entry and exit ceremonies. Each technique is scored out of 10 points in front of five judges. The lowest and highest note are removed to keep only three notes. That is a score out of 360 points. »
They beat defending champions Poland by 4 points.
Alwena passing her baccalaureate this year, the two judokas did not however arrive in Zagreb until the day before, late at night, of the competition. Driven to Beauvais airport, to fly to Croatia with their brother and their mother, by their father just after the youngest has finished his exam. Despite this, in the elimination phase, the Normans came third in the qualifications, a place which allowed them to access the final phase. They won there with a score of 278.5 points, beating Poland, reigning European champions, by 4 points. “It was really, really tight.comments Eleobane Le Coadou. The slightest mistake could have changed everything. »
Well integrated by the France group, the two medalists came back full of memories of this experience with the Blues. “We lovedEleobane exclaims smiling. Everyone was very nice and caring. The advice that the other French representatives gave us served us well to win. In addition, it is the first time that we took the plane (laughs). »
“They are shy, but on a kata, there is no one next to them. They are two different people.”
“They are shy, but on a kata, there is no one next to them. They are two different people,” laughs their father when describing his daughters. Both black belts in the discipline, the two athletes started at the age of 2 and now have 25 medals. “It was obvious to uscomment the two sisters. Our whole family practices, judo runs in our veins. »
Mikael Le Coadou also keep excellent memories of the beginnings of his two daughters. “The first thing a child does when they come to the dojo is get on the mat. They came with the diaper and the kimono (laughs). » The road is still long for the two fighters, out of the 11 dan in the Ju no Kata, Alwena is 2nd dan while her big sister, Eleobane, will obtain her 3rd dan at the age of 20.
A family story
In the Le Coadou family, the passion for judo has been passed down through time. For three generations. Since the grandfather, Roger Le Coadou, founded the Bernanos home, located in the Bleville district, in 1968 (which now has 130 members). “We are the oldest club in Le Havresays Mikael Le Coadou. My father taught everything to my brother (4th dan), my sister (5th dan) and me. My wife, who started practicing when we met, and my mother are brown belts. My eldest son, Loevan (21 years old), is about to pass his 3rd dan and my two daughters are European champions. It is a family culture. »
Mikael, who still participates in competitions, also has, like his daughters, a well-stocked trophy cabinet. “I practice every week and my partner Bruno Souday is training for a grade pass. We won the French Ju no Kata championship this year and we finished second in the European championship in 2019 in Gran Canaria (Spain). » A real family story.
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