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A judo champion on the tatami

C athy Fleury, the first Frenchwoman, all sports combined, to win the three major competitions (Olympic Games, world championships and European championships), took part in various workshops at the dojo. In the company of Fabienne Boffin, one of her former teammates from the France team and teacher of the Gien club.

Thus, Saturday was devoted to women’s sport, first with a Taïso course (traditional exercises in preparation for judo), then a judo course in the afternoon.

“It’s okay to fall. The more you try, the more you will succeed”

In the morning, Fabienne Boffin led the session. Cathy Fleury followed her friend’s course, along with the girl students. In the afternoon, the course was then led by Cathy Fleury. After various exercises of movements, falls, the one who won gold at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 at the welterweight (- 61 kilos) showed them two techniques to turn his opponent on the tatami.

When it was time to fight on the ground or standing, the little judokas then rushed to be able to be the champion’s partner. So much so that she had to calm their impatience: “But you have already fought against me. So that everyone can come, I only take someone who has not yet been my partner, ”laughed the champion.

During the judo class, Cathy Fleury shared advice for young judokas: “I remind you that in judo you have to try. It’s okay to fall. The more you try, the more you will succeed”.

In the stands, you could see parents and spectators who had not dared to go on the tatami to do the exercises, too young or intimidated.

Autographs

Laura, 7, preferred to stay next to Sonia, her mother, in the stands. Sonia explains: “She is shy, there are too many people. She does all the exercises next to me. But she brought her young passport to ask Cathy Fleury for an autograph. » Lucie, 8 years old, did not hide her pleasure. She participated in the morning and afternoon workshops. Her mother says: “She wanted to come and meet the champion. Arnaud, his judo teacher, had told them about this weekend. Lucie researched the Internet before coming. She is delighted to meet a champion in real life, and not in cardboard like the effigy of Teddy Riner which is in the reception hall. »

If in the morning Lucie had Cathy Fleury sign her belt, at the end of the afternoon she was happy to tell her mother that she had been able to do an exercise as the champion’s partner.

For her part, Cathy Fleury was delighted with the women’s day on Saturday: “It was perfect. It was very friendly. We discussed, we exchanged well. That’s all we ask for a good day. From time to time, we like to meet up with girls. The goal is to have time to talk, to not be shy about asking questions. »

City Medal

Finally, a short ceremonial moment was intended to award the City medal to Cathy Fleury, by the mayor of Gien, Francis Cammal. She wasn’t the only champion in the room then. She was joined by Magali Baton, who is currently secretary general of the French Federation of Judo, Jujitsu, Kendo and Associated Disciplines (FFJDA), and Roland Delvingt, vice-champion of the military world.

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