For more than a month and a half, a final place (-78 kg women) had still to be officially awarded for the Paris Games. On April 5, the Judo Federation formalized its choice between Madeleine Malonga and Audrey Tcheuméo, selecting the first after asking them to compete in a final competition, each on their own, to decide between them. Thing was done between Tbilisi (Tcheuméo 5th) and Antalya (Malonga victorious) in March. That left validation by the CNOSF, which took place on Friday. The Tokyo Olympic vice-champion in -78kg spoke for the first time about this duel fought against her compatriot, in the wake of this decision.
“How did you experience the officialization of your selection?
I was happy and paradoxically, it was very shared. There was pride because it was very difficult mentally – the Olympiad, the last year, the last weeks. But I am already focused on August 1 (date of his entry into the running).
How was the direct non-selection after the Grand Slam in Paris (in bronze after beating Audrey Tcheuméo in the repechage at the beginning of February) experienced?
It was a disappointment. I was disappointed because from what I had read, from what I knew, Paris was a very important objective for the selection, it was going to be decisive. Having read that, I said to myself “OK, this will be done”. Especially since it was crazy pressure: I missed the European Championships in November. Luckily, she misses too. I knew that in Paris, everything would have to be cut out. This is what was disappointing. When we tell you, I can’t answer them (the selection committee) “Select me”, they are the ones who decide. I had to see things positively and tell myself that I still had a chance.
How have the last few weeks been?
It was so hard mentally that I did the thing I do best, I took refuge in work. I trained, that’s all I did. And I made sure not to think too much about the competition, even if it was there. The day of her competition, I was stressed. I was afraid she would win, but that’s the game. I preferred not to watch her fights, simply to watch the tables from a distance. When her competition ended, there was a kind of relief because she finished 5th, but you tell yourself that there is still work to do. The season was difficult. By not participating in the World Championships in Doha – while my competitor came 2nd – I knew that this selection was going to be difficult to obtain. At each competition, there was enormous stakes. After the Paris Grand Slam, I thought it was good. And actually, no. We had to mentally remobilize ourselves.
What do you think made the difference with Audrey Tcheuméo?
My medal at the Masters (in Paris). My determination also made the difference. I generally manage to manage the pressure. She still left with good points ahead, since she had just been vice-world champion (in Doha in May 2023).
“Anyway, my goal was not to be selected, my goal is to be an Olympic champion”
Did this wait affect your Olympic preparation…
During the Olympiad, we had our selections in May, now we are in April… I am convinced that it is above all in the head. If on that day (August 1st), I am determined and I want to, everything will be fine. You can even be sick or have the worst disasters, the important thing is to be 1000% on the right day. I’m not going to lie, there were things that made me drunk, mentally tired. Anyway, my goal was not to be selected, my goal is to be an Olympic champion. We had to go through the Olympic selection, it was hard but it was the first step.
What’s next now?
We will see with the staff and coaches what competitions I will do. The Europes are a little too early (April 25 to 28 in Zagreb), but there must still be a Grand Slam (two in reality, Dushanbe and Astana) and the Worlds (May 19 to 24 in Abu Dhabi).
The objective is absolutely a medal in Paris?
Games at home are crazy. I remember our return from Tokyo, when we were at the Trocadéro: the French patrol, the incredible fervor, all these people who had come… I said to myself “Damn, doing the Games in Paris, it’s going to be incredible .” That’s when I said to myself, “I want to relive that moment.” With a gold medal it would be incredible. »
2024-04-12 17:33:17
#Madeleine #Malonga #qualified #Olympics #afraid #Tcheuméo #win
