Crying does not deceive.
From her waza-ari, the tricolor judokate burst into tears on the tatami overwhelmed by emotion even before the referee's confirmation of her victory.
An Olympic coronation that Clarisse Agbégnénou had been waiting for since her defeat in Rio in 2016: “Finally… I have this medal, I do not believe it.
I don't even have the words.
I was really on a mission for this gold medal.
It was not easy.
It was the hardest day mentally.
And then finally, it becomes easier with this title.
"
🗣️ "I was on a mission to get this gold medal"
🇫🇷 The reaction of Clarisse Agbégnénou (-63 kg), Olympic champion and first female gold medalist for France # Tokyo2020 #Olympic
Games Follow the Olympics live ▶ https://t.co/DbgV1naW1I pic.twitter.com/kABKyPhHem
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) July 27, 2021
An Olympic revenge against the same opponent.
The Frenchwoman faced in the final of -63 kg Tina Trstenjak, a Slovenian whom she faced on multiple occasions.
The two judokates fell in arms at the end of the fight, in a sequence full of emotion.
“In the final, opposite, it was an outstanding judokate.
We know each other by heart.
I thought I would face the Japanese at the start of the day.
But to take my revenge five years later, I could not have dreamed of better ”, reacted the new gold medalist.
"A special thought for the girls on the team"
The tricolor flag-bearer, at the head of the French delegation, had a word for the rest of the French team, in particular for judo. Agbégnénou had already congratulated Amandine Buchard after her silver medal in less than 52 kg. “I'm very happy to bring home this first gold medal for women. For the boys too, of course, but I have a special thought for the girls on the team. They have been excellent. They are the ones who gave me the strength, ”recalled the five-time world champion.
A last message for those close to him: “I am so honored. Thank you for getting up so early. Thank you for your support. This postponement was hard last year. I like you a lot. I'll be home soon to celebrate, ”concluded Clarisse Agbégnénou, still in tears. An emotion shared by all of France.