Luc, it's the best way to end your international career than to go for an Olympic title…
Luc Abalo:
At one point, when I wanted to stop the France team, I had the feeling of to say that I was actually abandoning it.
And there I am happy to finish on that because I have the impression that it is about an accomplishment.
To discover
The full Olympic program
The Olympic medal table
You had a plan to end up with a third Olympic title…
(Smile) No, in my plan, I imagined ending up with a victory, anywhere. Now it's at the Olympics, it's even more beautiful. In fact, I have the feeling that with this team, we could have continued to win. Even the Rio Games, we lose in the final on details. And I admit that I had a hard time accepting the fact of losing, that it is sport and that sometimes, the others also train hard, that they have the niac and that they can pass in front of us. The Danes ate us psychologically at one point and we did not work well at one point. But what is beautiful is that we have managed to put everything back in place and face the difficulties that we may have experienced.
Do your three Olympic titles have the same value in your eyes?
No, they will never have the same value as it was not the same teams, the same individualities. And then in addition, today, there is the Covid which created a lot of frustration among people, some have lost relatives, me personally ... Even before Dinart left, I wanted to stop the team of France. I told my best friends about it, I told them that I wanted to quit, that I didn't feel the team and that above all I had this impostor syndrome. I had it because I was played less and I wondered if I was taken just because I had won titles before. At that point, it helped me to have very close people who reminded me of my worth. It was a special experience for me to need this support,whereas usually I would handle this on my own. And then last December, I lost my dad and I told myself that I couldn't give up. So, even though I couldn't return to Norway (where he played for a club) in February, I got up very early every morning to go train and work on my post-career.
At that time, were you already thinking about the Games?
I'll tell you something, I had been convinced for some time that we were going to play the final against the Danes here.
And I knew that all the difficulties that I went through were going to give me a particular desire.
This is why each competition is special, because it is always linked to a different story.
“I was convinced that we were going to win. "
Luke Abalo
The fact that it was Michaël Guigou who put your medal around his neck is symbolic…
Yes, with Mika and Kara (Nikola Karabatic), I knew we were going to end up together.
I have had certainties all my career.
When Kara hurt her knee, I knew he would be back in time for Tokyo.
I can't tell you why, it was just a sensation.
Well, now there were also times when I was convinced that we were going to win a competition and then finally we lost it (smile).
In short, today, I was convinced that we were going to win.
Finally, after five minutes of play, I had this conviction because before the match, I had no idea where we were going (smile).
What feeling did you have during the whole day?
Frankly, when I got up I thought to myself that tonight I would be a free man. I love handball so much, you can't even imagine, but at the same time there are times when it's so psychologically tough. Afterwards, maybe it's me who am like that, and not the others. When I lose a game or a competition, I always felt like I was disappointing people. And afterwards, I don't feel well. There, I am telling you things that I have never said before because I was afraid to show a weakness. But of course, sometimes we doubt, we question ourselves. And even sometimes we find another culprit, be it the teammate, the coach, the media… In fact, the best lesson I have learned is to always blame myself. This is the best way forward.
What have all these years brought you in the French team?
I believe I took a lesson in life that will help me be a better person and achieve professional success. I learned that in difficulty, if you keep fighting, something inevitably happens afterwards.
Today, was it the last game of your entire career?
As I said before, if I have the opportunity to be able to get out of Europe… I have something that may be happening, but I don't know if I can tell you more .
I need to call my agent to find out what I can tell you.
But hey, it's not far from here at all.
OK, it's even here (laughs).
But that will depend on the covid but I would like to come to a club in Tokyo.
It would be a dream for me.
If that happens, after this Olympic title, I would be the happiest man in the world.
Interview in mixed zone.
