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Amandine Leynaud: "I hope that our successes will create envy among the children who have seen us on television"

2021-08-08T11:04:48.761Z


The goalkeeper of the French handball team draws a line on her international career with an Olympic gold medal around her neck. A dream ending that she will achieve "later".


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Amandine, could you imagine a better end to your international career?


Amandine Leynaud:

Secretly, but also officially, I had said that I wanted to go for this Olympic title. But from there to do it… Even if I had no doubts about our team, it's just that at one point, you tell yourself that it's so extraordinary to be an Olympic champion that it becomes almost inaccessible in your mind. Especially since I knew how far I had to go. But now, it happens to me today and I go through all the emotions. I want to cry, to laugh, I am shocked… There is a lot of stuff going on in my head. I think it will take me several days to be able to digest all of this.

Did you fear at some point to end your final, and your international career, with your foot stuck in a sign around the field (which it hit violently in the first period)?


I can tell you that there I am in great pain and I think that tomorrow I will not be able to walk.

But I also said to myself that if I had to break everything to be an Olympic champion, then let's go and give it my all.

Eight minutes from the end, I had tears in my eyes and had to recover right away.

Amandine Leynaud

How did you experience the last few minutes?


Eight minutes from the end, I had tears in my eyes and I had to recover right away because I told myself that you never know.

I calmed down and then there, I saw one of my partners, I don't know which one, who was crying so I started crying again (laughs).

I said to myself: “

Put… we did it!

We have worked so hard for this.

You can't imagine how much.

It was unforgettable minutes.

Read also: France-Russia: the three key factors that propelled the Blue to gold

You have the honor of presenting the medals to your teammates…


It was not voluntary on my part because I do not like to be put forward. But the girls kept telling me… Even though we hadn't agreed to that at the start. I got recruited by this team which is just humanly the best. I have lived unforgettable moments in the French team for a long time and that is part of it.

You have now won everything, European, world and Olympic titles. What does this represent to you?


It is a real pride to be part of the history of French sport, and also of our discipline. We were the first to bring home a medal at the Games in Rio. And here we are the first to be Olympic champions. It's beautiful, just huge. It has to be repeated to me for me to realize it. It will be forever etched and I'm happy to have been a part of it.

The boys came to cheer you on during this final…


Yes, it was nice, except they had a good party last night.

But hey, we love them anyway (laughs).

They mastered their final, it was deserved.

Me, as soon as there is an Olympic final with French or French women, I have chills in front of my television.

It is a special event.

On a human level and adrenaline issue, I will never find that again

Amandine Leynaud

In recent days, there has been a lot of emphasis on the success of handball, volleyball and basketball, three sports qualified as school ...


Yes, it's true, everyone has done handball at school. Everyone tells me: “

Wow you're a professional handball player, that's great. I also did handball

. ” There I ask where and each time, I am told: “

at school

”. It always makes me laugh, and at the same time, I too started like this somewhat by accident. I hope that our successes will have created envy in the children who have seen us on television.

With an Olympic title, aren't you tempted to change your mind and continue?


It is true that at the human level and in terms of adrenaline, I will never find that again. Now I have a wonderful family who have sacrificed a lot for me. I think of my parents, my brother, my wife, my children… Everything in time. I'm a very laid-back person, and I couldn't ask for a better ending. I wish the girls to win ten more but for me, it's good, I gave.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2021-08-08

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