Disqualified in the under 57 kg final and therefore silver medalist, Sarah-Léonie Cysique still has her eyes red with tears when answering our questions.
But the 23-year-old judokate tries to put a smile on her voice a few minutes after leaving the tatami mats.
What happened to this last action?
How do you react to this sanction?
SARAH-LEONIE CYSIQUE.
We were on opposite guard, my hand was placed high.
I tried an "uchi-mata-makikomi" as I usually do.
There, she
(Editor's note: her opponent the Kosovar, Nora Gjakova)
tried to push me to counter me.
My head rolled up, that was the only direction I could go.
I stayed there, on the back of my neck for a few moments.
As I got up, the referee told me that I had committed a dangerous action.
I was in the dark.
I also felt injustice.
But it's the game, it's the referees who judge, according to their own vision.
So if for them the fault exists, I have no other choice but to accept it, even if I do not agree.
You still leave Tokyo with a silver medal ...
After the semi-final, I was already very happy, and I couldn't contain my emotions.
In this final, I was convinced to come back with the gold medal.
My strategy was the same during this fight, I didn't panic even though I felt that it was faster and that I lacked a little energy, especially towards the end.
For the moment, it is a feeling of sadness that predominates.
I blame myself a bit for not taking full advantage.
I think that this will pass tonight, I will realize how lucky I am to be Olympic vice-champion.
🇫🇷 Olympic vice-champion!
Despite a frustrating final, Sarah-Léonie Cysique (-57 kg) leaves with a beautiful silver medal 🥈
Nothing can stop French judo, THANK YOU 🥋 # GoLesBleus # Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/q2ZytzeeQk
- France Team (@EquipeFRA) July 26, 2021
Did the first French medal in judo, the one won by Luka Mkheidze, boost you?
Yes !
When Luka won
(NLDR: he is a bronze medalist in less than 60 kg)
I felt in a good dynamic, invaded by energy.
I wanted to give my all and fight like he did.
Then it was Amandine's turn
(
Buchard, silver medalist in less than 52 kg
)
and after that, I knew it was going to be exceptional fights.
On a physical level, how do you feel?
I hurt my hip in the fight against the Georgian, but it's okay, it's on the side of my supporting leg.
My hips are not the strongest, it is also handicapping in some fights.
This kind of injury is futile in the face of the importance of competition, and the state of mind matters.
I convince myself that everything is fine and that's how I get there.
Without a leg, I would have gone anyway.
Despite the absence of your family here at the Games, there are Amandine Buchard and Romane Dicko who we have heard a lot in the stands to support you.
Did this help you?
Yes, a lot. I thought I was not going to hear anything during my fight but finally I heard Amandine's cries and advice in the distance. I thank them for encouraging me and for shouting my name until I lost my voice. It gave me a lot of strength.