A year and a half before the Paris 2024 Games, the biggest stars of world judo will be present at the Paris Grand Slam. The Castelnauvienne and great tricolor hope Blandine Pont will try to shine there.
Before tackling the Grand Slam and your preparation, were you able to break with judo during the holidays?
Yes quite. I really needed to breathe a little at that time. These few days have done me the greatest good to start the year in good conditions.
In what state of form are you going to attack the Grand Slam of Paris?
I feel good, the preparation that we attacked at the beginning of January was good. In particular, we went abroad two weeks ago, which allowed us to confront other judokas. Everything went very well, I am in good physical and mental shape. I’m going to approach this Grand Slam of Paris with a lot of desire and with the aim of giving the best of myself. We will do the accounts this Saturday evening, but I can’t wait to be able to express myself in front of the French public.
Fighting in Paris, in front of your supporters, is that an additional strength?
Absolutely, it is an important driver. Competing in a competition in France, in front of our family and the French public who give voice to us, are always special moments. When you receive such support, you inevitably want to surpass yourself and give the best of yourself. I really see it as something positive and not as an additional pressure. It shouldn’t be a weakness, but a strength.
What do you expect from this big meeting, which we know is very important in the world of judo?
It’s true that the Paris Grand Slam is still very important for the selections and the rest of the season. This will be the case again this year. So yes, for sure it will be a step that will count and which will also be part of the road to Paris 2024. What is certain is that I am ready to give everything to do something positive . Now it will be up to me to apply all this in competition. It’s the big day that everything counts.
Do you have specific goals in mind for this competition?
As a competitor and in relation to the requirements that I set for myself as a high-level athlete, I will not go to Paris to pass rounds, but to grab a medal and win. The most important thing is to focus on the present moment and all the fights that will come my way. I will take everything in their time, giving the maximum of me every time.
Do even better
Great hope of Montpellier and tricolor judo, Blandine Pont (24) has already shone and made a strong impression in the capital. Bronze medalist at the Grand Slam de Pairs in 2021, the Castelnauvienne also won third place in February 2022. Enough to nurture great ambitions for this new edition, where the reigning French champion of -48kg will once again be the one of the serious outsiders in the medal race. Gold in sight.
