Brothers and sisters, aunts, cousin cousins, her best childhood friend and of course her parents… The whole family of Romane Dicko, a young judoka from Val-de-Marne was gathered this Friday morning to follow the exploits of their champion.
Arrived at the headquarters of the new Romane club a year ago, Paris-Saint-Germain in Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine), the Dicko clan was quick to make itself heard.
"If we can already hear them when they are two floors above, it will be crazy", laughs a receptionist while the group repeats its encouragement before the semi-final of the young girl who discovers to hardly the international level.
"She has never done a World Championships," recalls her father Daniel very quickly, wearing, like the whole family, a flocked t-shirt with "Let's go Romane!"
»(Come on Romane!).
🥋🇫🇷 The nightmare is over!
Romane Dicko offers a medal to the French delegation!
After many disappointments today, here is finally a medal!
She offered herself bronze at only 21 years old!
💪
▶ Follow the Olympics live: https://t.co/HnTJu3Tm5y pic.twitter.com/WuC28Wpp1L
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) July 30, 2021
A prudence and a calm that the patriarch retains when he settles down on the sofas facing the screen. Final applause encourages the climb on the tatami of their champion. The mother, in the first row, shakes hands as if to pray. As the clock goes by in a close match, stress perspires throughout the room, filled by PSG employees. Each interruption of the fight allows the family, in apnea, to take a deep breath. "Come on, come on my darling," says Charlotte, the mother. What does not relax the dad, black eyes, frowning.
Despite the French offensives, no point falls.
It is ultimately his Cuban opponent Ortiz who scores and wins.
Daniel seems to have understood, taking his skull in his hands.
“She made a mistake, wasn't in it.
I have the ball in the stomach but we believe in it for the bronze ”, he breathes, disappointed.
Fortunately, the speedy repechage victory of club star (and the France team) Teddy Riner makes them smile again.
PSG judo wants to keep its nugget
Less than an hour later, 11:16 am, the double European champion is already on the tatami to compete for the bronze medal of these -78 kg. “I sent him all the positive vibes I had. I felt she was ready, ”reveals her twin sister, Salomé. This time, the stress quickly gives way to the outpouring of joy. She overthrows the Turkish Kayra Sayit and her family capsizes. Her father, reserved until then, lets go: “You're a warrior, bravo! He yells before jumping onto the sofas, getting shirtless. The whole family embraces, in a trance.
“Eight years ago, for his first judo lesson in Villeneuve-le-Roi, I gave him an appointment at the Olympics. Today, she was not wearing her magic belt, the one offered after her first national title, at 17. I think that's what made him lose, but the outfit must be neutral at the Olympics, ”recalls the father. On this belt, the family motto, also written on the t-shirts they wear: #TDVES for work, determination, will, commitment and seriousness. "We did not expect so much emotion," adds Thibaut, 20, the little brother who is trying to achieve.
“It's wonderful what they did
(with Teddy Riner, Editor's note)
. Sometimes third place is better than second, at least you end up with a win. Romane had a ruptured tendon in her shoulder not long ago, she is going to have an operation. We want to keep it, it's a nugget, "welcomes Djamel Bouras, president of PSG judo, Olympic champion in 1996. As for Teddy ..." I hope it's not over. It is possible for 2024, I would be surprised if he wanted to finish on bronze. Everything will depend on his physique. He is the athlete of the century in judo, ”concludes the ex-judoka.