Queen Clarisse Agbegnenou and her four world champion titles. Lieutenants Marie-Eve Gahié and Madeleine Malonga, both crowned last year at the Worlds. Without forgetting an Amandine Buchard who knocks on the door or a Romane Dicko expected as the new phenomenon in the category of +78 kilos. Abundance of goods does not harm the French women's team which, for several years, has been the heyday of the discipline in France while their male colleagues, them, rest mainly on the broad shoulders of Teddy Riner. And this is undoubtedly not finished because two new talents are coming to the fore, two young 21-year-old judokates who seem to have a great future and who will both be playing their first Parisian Grand Slam in Bercy this Saturday: Shirine Boukli and Sarah-Léonie Cysique.
Shirine Boukli, "the relentless"
The first still only points to 36th place in the world classification of -48kg but, clearly, it has the wind in its sails between its title of vice-champion of the world hopefuls last year and its second place at the time of the Grand Prix of Tel Aviv two weeks ago. "I feel good, in good shape," says the woman, who had started judo with her brothers at the age of 4 in her uncle's club. “This first Grand Prix podium did me a lot of good. It gives me confidence. This proves that I am not that far away. ”The one who describes herself as“ relentless ”now dreams of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics:“ Of course I think about it. If I continue like this, why not? Paris will notably be a very important stage. I'm going there to win and if that happens, I would really have a say in qualifying. And if that does not happen, at least I would have given myself completely to this objective and there will inevitably be lessons to be learned. ”
In its category, it must however deal with the competition of a Mélanie Clément who, certainly, has never yet climbed on a world podium, but which points in 6th row. "Mélanie is installed but I want to believe it," she says, her eyes determined. I'll make my way and we'll see where this one takes me. I do not watch what she does in any case, I focus on myself, on my goals. "As to whether his rise is not a bit too fast, Boukli does not think about it:" I do not can't say it's going too fast because it's something I expected, or hoped for. These are the results I was aiming for and I want it to go fast because I have everything to gain and nothing to lose in view of Tokyo. I don't have time to wait. ”It is up to her to take another step towards Japan this summer by doing better than Clément at Bercy.
Sarah-Léonie Cysique, "the serene"
If she too is 21, the native of Sarcelles has nevertheless taken a step ahead of Boukli since she has had good results among seniors last year. Even if she is not completely satisfied: “2019 was a year with a lot of emotions because I often finished 5th, which generated a lot of frustration. But there was also a lot of joy to win 5th place at the World Championships because even if there was no medal, it was strong. "And the judo at -57kg to add:" I did not expect such good results so quickly especially since my start to the year had not been terrible. I pleasantly surprised myself and proved that I could do great things. ”
So, despite the competition from Hélène Receeaux, bronze medalist at the 2017 Worlds, or Priscilla Gneto, bronze medalist at the 2012 Olympics and European champion 2017, it is she who occupies pole position for now in the race for the 2020 Olympics from the top of its 10th place in the world. "I think a lot about Tokyo, just like a lot of people talk to me about it," she says. But I take the competitions one by one. The Olympics will certainly arrive very quickly, but there is the qualification first to win. Then I could think about it more calmly. ”
Serenity, a term that comes up when talking about the Grand Slam of Bercy: “I approach Paris without any particular pressure, with a calm and a desire that are there. I can't wait to get started. I do not tell myself that I must succeed at all costs. I know this is a very important tournament but I strive to be serene. "And the Frenchwoman to want to improve again on this occasion to do better than 5th:" I still make too many mistakes for my taste . Tactically, sometimes, I rush, I show too much enthusiasm. It is enough that I see a fault for me to rush into it when it is better to wait. ”
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