She joined us at her publisher's in the XVII arrondissement of Paris. Sarah Abitbol does not hide it, she is "tired" by the interviews, the trauma that goes back and the many requests. But a week after the release of his book "Un si long silence" (Editions Plon), the former skater, who accuses her former trainer Gilles Beyer of rape, is delighted to see the repercussions of her testimony on the world of sport.
A week after the release of your book, what do you think of the shock wave it caused?
SARAH ABITBOL. I feel that there is an awareness. I have the Minister of Sports by my side and I receive messages of support from everywhere. The world of sport is on the move, it's amazing to have gotten there. I did not expect that. Thanks to me, we break the omerta in sport. It's my greatest victory, my Olympic gold medal.
What did you receive as messages of support?
A granny wrote to me. She said, "Thank you. Now I'm going to talk to my grandchildren and be much more in tune. Thank you for your message. "It is also other victims in skating or in sport in general who come to me and tell me:" Sarah, I lived the same thing as you, everything comes back to me thanks to your speaking. I felt ashamed, but today I know that I have to speak to my husband, my parents or my children. "
Do you think figure skating is particularly affected by sexual violence?
The problem is very large and applies to all French sport. It even goes beyond sport, the people who talk to me come from many different fields.
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You will soon meet Brigitte Macron. What do you expect from this meeting?
It is a very important meeting. I'm going to deliver my message. I want to speak to her as a woman and a victim. I also plan to tell him about my future and the creation of the victims' association that the ministry will encourage. It is important to me that my word be used.
Are you aware that you will become, for the next few years, the face of the fight against sexual violence?
It may be premature to say that, but I'm ready to take on this role, do prevention campaigns, go to clubs and talk to children. The victims should not be ashamed, it was this feeling that kept me from speaking for years. If they can't tell their parents, write them a letter, tell a sister, a friend, a nurse, but speak if there is something that doesn't is not normal. It is up to the attackers to flee, not to the victims. Today, my shame has turned into pride. Yes, I am proud of myself.
Jean-François Lamour says he does not remember that you called him when he was Minister of Sports to talk about your situation…
If he does not remember, it may have been because he did not understand the words I used at the time. My mother was with me, she remembers it well. It would be nice to be able to talk about it, because that means that there was a problem. At the time, speech was not released, so it was different, but there was a file at the ministry.
Didier Gailhaguet does not want to resign. Did you expect it?
Yes, it's something that I and other athletes of my generation, like Philippe Candeloro or Gwendal Peizerat, had predicted. Didier Gailhaguet made his decision. Now the Minister of Sports takes hers.
Today, only one French federation is headed by a woman (Editor's note: fencing) . Do you think it takes more women to make a difference?
Yes, the number of men can play. Why not put a woman at the head of the French federation of ice sports? Someone who is neutral but who knows skating should be there. I've been thinking lately, and I've been thinking of someone, a woman of action. For now, it would be premature to give a name, but she would be able to direct this federation.
