The muscles are sharpened, the bodies sheathed.
No need to look for fat, there is none.
This Saturday, around thirty of the best male and female street workout athletes met in Montgeron.
The city of Essonne hosted the French Championships of "freestyle" street workout, a discipline that combines bodybuilding, aerial gymnastics and acrobatic figures.
The key, for the four finalists, a qualification for the worlds on August 20 and 21, in Latvia.
"Warm up, hydrate, it's going to be hot," the organizers tell the athletes.
They each have two minutes to show what they have in their arms.
And it's impressive.
Some chained the tornadoes - a 360° on the bars -, others remained suspended for several seconds… The spirit was good-natured, the competitors encouraged each other.
Montgeron, July 30, 2022. The French street workout freestyle championships took place in Montgeron with around thirty participants from all over France.
“It's a family, testifies Adrien, who came from Thiais (Val-de-Marne) and is 19 years old.
We all know each other quite well.
In general, there is a very good atmosphere in street workout parks.
We are used to greeting each other.
And you should not hesitate, when you are a beginner, to ask for advice, on the contrary.
»
Adrien started this sport four years ago, which is practiced on outdoor apparatus, and therefore in free access.
“But I did ten years of swimming before, he continues.
At first, it was just to strengthen me.
I watched videos on YouTube, and I fell into it.
I train 4-6 times a week.
Mainly in my room, and for agility, I like to go to Nanterre park in Hauts-de-Seine, it's great.
»
After the Covid, a "real need for outdoor structures"
In Montgeron, the facilities are all recent.
“It allows people to express themselves and exercise,” rejoices Valérie Dollfus, sports and youth assistant.
The city relied on the manufacturer Kenguru Pro and the installer Sport Park.
“This discipline is developing more and more in Île-de-France.
The state launched the 5,000 pitches program for 2024. After the Covid, many sports halls were less busy.
There was a real need for structures with free access and outdoors,” explains Macha and Fabrice Lion, the managers and organizers.
The longer-term objective is for street workout to make its way to the Olympic Games as an official discipline.
In the meantime, Léa is the first female candidate to start.
And she has nothing to envy to male athletes.
She connects the figures with ease.
She also practiced swimming, before taking up street workout six years ago.
“I discovered this after a rally in my city, Nice”, indicates the young woman of 24 years.
She doesn't even need to catch her breath after her impressive display.
“I progressed very quickly, because after the first eight months, I was taking part in the World Championships in Moscow.
I train every other day for muscle building, and once a week on the bars.
Not more, because it is quite restrictive for the joints.
»
Read also“When we play sports, we forget detention”: street workout, a new religion at Fleury-Mérogis prison
Finished talking, she hurries to take a camera to film and photograph her boyfriend's performance.
Here, we encourage each other and everyone enjoys the show, no one plays tough.
They all have them anyway.
Montgeron, July 30, 2022. Of the thirty participants, the championship has four female athletes, including Léa, 24 years old.
LP/C.CH.