Collet: "Going to conquer an Olympic medal is very exciting"

“We are very satisfied with Vincent and Valérie for a lot of reasons,” underlines Jean-Pierre Siutat. And the president of the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) joined the gesture by confirming said Vincent Collet and Valérie Garnier in their functions at the head of the French teams, male and female, until 2021. "We have proven in the past that this stability is a factor of success. ” In this case, Valérie Garnier has been in place since 2013 and Vincent Collet, 2009. The two selectors take stock, by teleconference, confinement requires.

Vincent Collet (coach of the France team): “I am very happy to have been confirmed. Being full time is something new that I welcome with pleasure and satisfaction. Partly because of the health crisis, the team that won bronze last year at the World Cup is unlikely to be able to meet for two years. We had obtained this medal thanks to a cohesion, a flawless state of mind. It will have to be maintained. Being able to go and meet players much more easily is a positive factor. Being integrated into different training programs and the training of coaches motivated me a lot. That interests me a lot. I want to transmit and exchange with the various speakers on technical content. It is also planned that I will be able to meet great coaches, in particular on the European scene, and to serve as a relay with French basketball. All of these goals are ambitious. The first is of course to coach the French team and hope to continue the momentum of the World Cup, namely the desire to obtain an Olympic podium. (...)

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The prospect of going on to conquer an Olympic medal is very motivating, very exciting, and it is of course the ambition of this group after the World Cup last year. This is one of the first things we could say to ourselves, trying to confirm in an Olympic context that will be even more difficult, more difficult. But the pandemic has broken momentum a little ... We will have to maintain this state of mind and this cohesion in the team. (on the NBA season which could end in July-August 2021) The health crisis leaves us with a lot of questions. We don't even know when it will be possible to play basketball again. We can ask ourselves a lot of questions about the European cups. The same goes for the NBA. It is clear that the situation in the United States is also very complicated and that there can be many developments. We will have to watch this closely. It is clear that an NBA season stretching out next year would complicate matters for preparation. As we understand it, the preparation will be almost identical to what we initially planned in 2020. It is of course dependent on the end of the players' competitions. ”

"The Euro and the Olympics in 2021? It's a real challenge "

Valérie Garnier (coach of the French Women's Team)  : “It's a real pleasure for me. Apart from the health crisis which we deplore, 2021 will be a new year for French women's basketball with, one month apart, the Euro and the Olympic Games. It is a real challenge. It is also a pleasure for me to be able to bring my expertise and knowledge into the programs of the federation. I was immediately won over by the project. It gives the opportunity to devote myself to my function full time, but also to bring my knowledge and to intervene on the young French teams, on training, content ... It is a real challenge and I look forward to it in advance. (...) The Euro and the Games in 2021? In France, we are lucky to have a very large group. This is not necessarily the case in other countries. Regarding this new situation, I am sure that it motivates the players, even if there is some concern. It is up to us to be relevant and intelligent in the construction of the programming for these two competitions. And in particular do not forget about recovery. We will have to adapt. But the coach that I am is rather excited about this situation. I'm sure the players are too. (...) Céline Dumerc, appointed General Manager of the French women's team? It is really a pleasure for me to work again with Céline. We have a common past, we know each other very well. She will bring her expertise to the benefit of this young group. It is one of the successful examples of French basketball for everything. ”

Comments gathered at a press conference

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