For the first time, the young Niortaise Pauline Cuq will participate in the Grand Slam of Paris, one of the biggest competitions in the world.
Pauline Cuq is advancing at high speed in the world of judo. In November 2022, at just 18 years old, the resident of DAN 79 won her first senior medal at the French championships. Here we are now retained in the French selection (- 48 kg) for the Grand Slam of Paris, at the Accord Arena. A great first for the former junior European champion in a competition that brings together the world’s best, Teddy Riner in the lead, gateway to the next Olympics in Paris.
Facing the world No. 1
Back from an internship in Japan, the cradle of judo, with the French junior team, “a trip as rewarding from a judo point of view, with different opponents than culture”Pauline Cuq will return to competition after her bronze medal in France. “I am now looking forward to fighting, to participating in this event, to giving my best. I feel good. This senior medal was one of my goals, I’m really happy to have achieved it, explains the young student at Sciences-po Paris. I’m slowly starting to impose myself among the seniors, that’s what matters most. It was a very trying day, with a lot of fights, but it allowed me to progress. »
A bronze medal which therefore opened the doors to the Grand Slam de Paris, her first international senior competition, where Pauline Cuq will meet the best in her category, starting with the Frenchwoman, Shirine Boukli, n° 1 world, European champion in 2022, or Abiba Uzhakynova (Kazakhstan), third in the last worlds. “When I learned of my selection, I was very happy. I first had a little moment of stress, I was not completely sure to be on this tournament. But very quickly, the desire to fight and face the best judokas in the world took over. It is an important meeting in the world of judo, says Pauline Cuq, also a resident of Insep. I will be among the youngest in the category (at 18, she is even the youngest of the competition), and you will have to earn my place. » It is also a great first for the club of the Niortaise agglomeration, which will also have two former licensees in competition, Mélanie Vieu (- 48 kg) and Nicolas Pavlovski (- 100 kg).
Poujoulat’s support
La Niortaise will also discover the Accor Arena in Bercy, and its gigantism. “We all know this room, it is quite iconic in Paris, for its concerts or sporting events. It’s a very nice place, and I hope it’s going to be a pleasure to fight there. »
Behind the scenes, Pauline Cuq has received financial support from the Niortais group Poujoulat, also a partner of the Chamois Niortais and the Niort RC, which will also accompany the DAN 79 to help her “to keep his talents”. Another good news to continue growing in high level sport.
The judoka from Niort, only junior second year, now has an appointment this Friday, February 3 for the weigh-in, before entering, the next day, at dawn, into another dimension.
Beginning of the fights, this Saturday, February 4 at 8 a.m.
Melanie Vieu
For the second time in her career, the former resident of DAN 79, Mélanie Vieu, will participate in the Grand Slam de Paris. Now in the colors of PSG, the judoka, 35th in the world, could cross paths with Pauline Cuq in the – 48 kg category, as during the French championships, where she won in the second round.
