“The last time, it went very badly because of the stress,” he explains. It was in 2018 during the previous Worlds: “I finished 7th, but I completely missed out on the competition. I could have done a lot better but I was eaten away by stress. »
Since then, the 22-year-old judoka claims to have gained experience, thanks to his bronze medal in Tokyo as well as his first European title won in early September in his -90 kg category.
“Now we are prepared, we shot a lot and we made the Paralympic Games. It’s supposed to be stronger than a world championship, there is more pressure so there I think it will do it, ”adds the one who started judo at the age of 7 to channel his energy.
“What I liked was that I was starting to win competitions. Being able to fight without hitting each other is cool too and being in your pajamas is nice,” he smiles. “But above all, what I like about judo is the moral code, the values that you can apply on and off the mats. »
When he started judo, he had already been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa for four years. “Basically, when it’s bright, I can see, and in dark places, I can’t see much,” he explains.
Classification change
“I lost a bit of vision four years ago but you get used to it. There, I took a leap. The night before I was acting a bit crazy, I couldn’t see anything and I went out without a cane. So now I think I’m going to take a cane at night anyway to try to stay alive,” he says.
In its discipline, which is aimed at people with visual impairments, the rules are the same as in valid judo, except for kumikata, that is to say the work of grabbing the kimono. In para judo, the fight therefore starts with the kumikata of the two fighters already installed: one hand on the sleeve, and the other on the opponent’s backhand.
Since this year, judokas have been separated into two classifications, the blind on one side (J1) and the visually impaired on the other (J2), a welcome development for sporting fairness, believes the resident of the ‘Insp.
“For the blind, it’s a very good thing because it allows them to express themselves better and for us it doesn’t change much, so everyone is a winner in the story, I think. »
“Enjoy the trip”!
In Baku in Azerbaijan, during the World Championships which begin on Tuesday (November 8-10), the main change for him will be that he will land there as the world No.1 in his category.
“Before the Games, I had an outsider status and now I’m going to a favorite status. You have to be able to make the switch mentally, ”he explains.
“I’m always apprehensive about the first round because in judo, and that’s what makes the beauty of sport, even if you are favorite, you can have done 10,000 km and stumble after 30 seconds of combat. There you go, you’re going home with your tail between your legs like ‘Well, the trip was fun!’ »
Less than two years from the Paralympic Games at home, he knows that this pressure will be increased tenfold in Paris. “I have done some work on my side and I intend to see a mental trainer to try to manage all this and put the best chance on my side to arrive at the top in Paris, physically and mentally in top shape. »
