He clenched his fists and hugged everyone who passed by.
Laurent Tillie held the gold which guided his steps as a coach since 2012. The scenario of the final, breathtaking, could have deprived him of air, he remained unperturbed.
The Blues led then doubted, attacked the tie-break backwards, then reversed this 5th set during which we "
throw a coin
", as summarized by Benjamin Toniutti, the captain of the Blues.
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Read also: Behind the scenes of the gold medals in French hand and volleyball
Laurent Tillie accompanied the blue final, its moments of euphoria, its depressions. Thrifty of his gestures, benevolent gaze, even at the worst times. He who had dived to try to receive a smash, in the quarter-finals against Poland remained unmoved. The France team after taking the lead in 2 sets 0, saw the Russians equalize and then lead 6-3 in the tie-break. Before winning with a lot of control. His Blues, winners 3 sets to 2 from Russia, are covered in gold. The coach retains: "
It is absolutely extraordinary.
Every athlete dreams of being an Olympic champion, every coach dreams of being an Olympic champion.
We have been pursuing this dream for nine years.
With ups, downs, joys, sorrows, but we always kept this objective.
Winning a final against the great Russian team gives even more satisfaction.
"
“He gave so much to the team, the greatest gift we could give was to be Olympic champion. "
Benjamin Toniutti on Laurent Tillie
The players underline the importance of the coach in the success. "
It's a crazy thing, we sat in the locker room, we thought 'what's going on?'. In the end, that's the beauty of volleyball, the one who loses is the one who has the last doubt. Tonight, it was the Russians who had the last doubt. That's all the work we've been doing for ten years, with Laurent,
”summarizes Earvin Ngapeth. "
He gave so much to the team, the greatest gift we could give was to be Olympic champion
," sums up Benjamin Toniutti, the captain. Jean Patry indicates: "
Laurent stops, I thank him for all the years with him.
It was he who made me come to the France team, decided to put me on the ground.
We realize that it was the last with Laurent.
It's a big page that turns.
He couldn't do better.
It's the end of something, but the band will always be there.
"
To read also: Tops / flops France-Russia: Ngapeth turns the dream into gold, the Russians carried away by blue envy
Trevor Clevenot adds: “
It's exceptional. He gave so much. He has been there since 2012. To start with this title is to leave by the front door. Laurent, thank you for everything you have done.
»Kévin Tillie, his son advances:«
We could not have dreamed of better, to realize this dream for my father, it is a crazy thing. He can live in peace now! Especially your perseverance, never give up because we have a group that is really difficult to keep. I don't know how he did it. He can live in peace now! He's not going to bother me anymore. If he says something to me, I will tell him "I am Olympic champion"
".
