He recognizes himself that he is "barking" into his microphone.
These cries - of joy as well as of anger - have become his signature.
This Sunday, Patrick Montel officially leaves public service after 33 years of career.
It was he who commented on the Olympic titles of Marie-José Pérec, Jean Galfione and Renaud Lavillenie.
At the time of taking his bow, this journalist evokes the key dates of his career.
August 7, 1983, Helsinki: his first World Athletics Championships
“In 1983, I was just doing stories from Paris for the TV news and
Stade 2
.
I am a scam, you know!
I was an economics teacher at the Léon-Blum high school in Créteil (Val-de-Marne), passionate about sport.
Every summer, thanks to my friend, journalist Dominique Duvauchelle, I did an internship at Antenne 2's sports department. I didn't think of becoming a journalist.
"
“In 1986, it was the FIFA World Cup in Mexico.
The special envoys on site, including Michel Drucker and Bernard Pivot, manage to send their images but not the sound.
One evening, someone urgently needed to comment on the matches, so we called on the two trainees who were lying around: Alain Vernon and me.
An incredible baptism.
I loved.
The following year, Thierry Roland, who commented on athletics with Gilles Cozanet, left for TF1 and I was sent with Gilles for the World Athletics Championships in Rome.
What an incredible privilege to enter the big leagues.
I've been in this dream for 33 years.
"
August 5, 1992, Barcelona: the first Olympic title for Marie-José Perec
“I screamed on the air (laughs).
It came out of the guts.
It was the first time that my love of athletes had shown on the air.
Because it was me, because it was her, that I had the chance to follow her from the very beginning of her career.
The Barcelona Games were the most beautiful Olympics I have experienced.
The last on a human scale: you could meet the stars of the American basketball Dream Team on the Ramblas.
Since then, the Olympics have become ultra-secure… London, it was very successful but very padlocked because of terrorist threats… ”
Barcelona Olympic Games (1992) Women's 400m Final
September 22, 2000, Sydney: Marion Jones and her 3 Olympic gold medals, which will be withdrawn for doping
“Doping is a big crap.
There is no doubt about it.
Some athletes steal victory from others and put their health at risk.
Looking back, we know that Marion Jones cheated.
She even served six months in prison!
But, at the time, we did not know.
I never regret having rejoiced live for those who got caught in the jar of jam.
When we are live, we are in the emotion of the competition.
I'm not the partridge of the year, I know there is cheating.
But I am unable to explain why my emotion sometimes takes precedence over my role as a journalist which consists of putting things back into perspective.
"
August 30, 2003, Paris: the triumph of French athletes
“There was a general euphoria in this filled Stade de France which predisposes to exploits.
Eunice Barber took to the skies, four young women set off on the 4 x 100, and I never landed.
I have a thing with female athletes that have always made me really vibrate more than men.
But I am not chauvinist.
I vociferated as much for Christophe Lemaitre as for the Algerian Hicham El Guerrouj, the Ethiopian Haile Gebreselassie or for Usain Bolt.
When you love someone, you vibrate when they're on the track.
I happen to know the French better for a simple reason.
Unlike Nelson Monfort, who is at the edge of the track, I am in a booth at the top of the stadium, the athletes, I have always seen them from a great distance.
Usain Bolt, I was never able to approach him.
"
The French 4x100m world champions (Paris 2003)
August 1, 2010, Barcelona: another triumph, and a lot of emotion
“Despite my joy in front of these flamboyant athletes, it remains a painful memory.
Behind the scenes, I am with my friend, the cyclist Laurent Fignon, who is really very sick and who took this trip to clear his mind.
He is happy to share this euphoria, but he is resigned to death, his cancer will kill him a few weeks later… In Barcelona, I cried a lot, and not only with joy… ”
April 8, 2019, Paris: a call to order for supporting Clémence Calvin, who fled a doping control.
“Clémence
(Editor's note: the marathon runner Clémence Calvin)
, I appreciate her a lot.
I wanted to help him and it was not the best thing to do.
I was in the same state of mind as when I commented on a race.
However, I should have had some distance.
I confused the genres, it was a mistake.
As a result of these criticisms, I was excluded from the Paris marathon.
But I assure you there is no correlation between the Calvin affair and the change of commentary team.
At that time, I already knew that France Télévisions was preparing for the future.
They knew that I would no longer be there in 2024 because I would have reached the expiry date
(Editor's note: he will then be 71 years old)
.
It was difficult to hear, but I fully understand their choice.
Alexandre Boyon and Alexandre Pasteur took over.
I respect them a lot.
They are very good and less feverish than me
(laughs)
.
"
November 8, 2020, Paris: farewell, the last “Stage 2”
“I am very moved that the management gives me this program as a gift to close this long story.
My problem is that I can't handle my emotions.
So I hope to stay dignified
(laughs)
.
After that, I don't know yet what I'm going to do.
I did not approach anyone.
My passion for sport is there, intact.
She will never retire.
She will be extinguished with me.
"
July 26, 2024, Paris: the Olympic Games ...
“For the Paris Olympics, I will be in a position of commentator if a media thinks that this is my place.
In the stadium, if I can buy tickets.
In my living room, in front of the TV.
Or cloistered in my bathroom if I drunk my family for constantly commenting on everything
(laughs)
.