Three young judokas from US Colomiers Judo—Lina Cousté, Alexis Danflous-Puigdemont, and Nassim Ben Hassen Pellard—have been named athletes of the year by the City of Colomiers following selections for the Toulouse regional training center, local media reported.
Toulouse Regional Selection Highlights Training Success
The selection process for the Pôle Espoirs de Toulouse drew 75 candidates across Occitanie. Thirty-six athletes advanced to the detection stage, with organizers ultimately retaining just 15 judokas for the regional structure ahead of the September term. Cousté, Danflous-Puigdemont, and Ben Hassen Pellard all secured admission following successful departmental, regional, and national campaigns.
Prior to their arrival in Toulouse, the trio competed across multiple circuits, including the Grand Prix Minimes du Gers, the departmental Minimes cup, and labeled tournaments in Bourges, Moissac, and Orléans. Those results earned them qualification for both individual and departmental team French cups.
Decade-Long Development at US Colomiers
The municipal distinction and regional selection reflect extended continuity within the Colomiers club framework. Alexandre Saby, president of US Colomiers Judo, noted the athletes’ long-standing ties to the organization. “They started judo at the club at 4 years old and did all their training in our judo school,” Saby stated. “They are therefore pure products of our training. It is also a pride for us and for the various professors who participated in the beginning of their training.”
The municipal recognition coincides with the trio’s transition from youth competition into elite regional structures. Having trained together since early childhood at the Colomiers facility, the athletes enter the Toulouse setup as the club’s primary representatives in the regional high-performance pathway.
