From our special correspondent in Beijing
To discover
The Olympic medal table: Norway already in the lead, France unlocks its counter
Full results of the 2022 Winter Olympics
The complete program of the Beijing Olympics 2022
LE FIGARO. - Chloé, seeing your beautiful smile, we imagine that this silver medal suits you perfectly…
Chloe TRESPEUCH. -
I'm overwhelmed.
I was emotional when I crossed the line, but I was even more emotional when I saw my coach and my staff because I know how involved they are and that they give everything for me to be efficient.
And I'm not always because it's snowboardcross, anything can happen.
We saw it with Julia (Pereira de Sousa, eliminated in the semi-finals in a collision).
So sometimes it can be frustrating for them to see us fail when they give their all to make it work.
I am very happy to be able to share these emotions with them.
I'm happy for me, but I'm also happy to see that they're happy for me too.
Is this medal stronger than the bronze one you won in 2014 in Sochi?
In 2014, I was too young, I have memory lapses, it arrived too quickly and suddenly… (She hesitates) I think I worked a lot more and I was expecting this one a lot more than in 2014, when I had the ardor of youth.
There, everything is more analyzed, intellectualized at the level of my preparation.
I'm starting to have more experience and I'm just losing this youthful spirit, so I have to compensate elsewhere (smile).
For this reason, I think it is stronger than 2014.
You also wanted this medal to take your revenge on 2018 and your 5th place in the final at the Pyeongchang Games...
As well.
In 2018, I was really in good shape, ready to go for a nice medal and I didn't miss a lot, but still missed it.
It had been super frustrating and very hard to live with at the time.
But I think this failure really brought me a lot.
This allowed me to really question myself, to think about how I wanted to work in physical and mental preparation.
In fact, this failure of 2018 reassured me in my project, that this was really what I wanted to do with my life.
From then on, I got involved 100% to never regret anything again.
How do you feel you have improved since 2018?
Already, I worked a lot on the mental management of my race.
My physical preparation has also evolved towards more intensity and quantity.
I chose to include more other sports in my preparation.
This year, for example, I did mountaineering, half-marathon… In fact, I walk a lot at challenges and the physical preparation that I would describe as routine is killing me.
At first, I didn't realize it, but with hindsight, I realized that I was losing intensity.
From now on, I always try to be at the maximum and always get out of my comfort zone to discover other things.
Can you tell us about your final, how did you experience it?
Already, I had a smile in the start, I was so happy to be there.
On my first two laps, I was a bit in doubt.
Besides, I was going ahead.
It's weird to say, but it's not my place (laughs) Usually, I'm rather behind at the beginning and I love that because it's the strategic side, choosing your line according to the others.
I work on it a lot, it's one of my strengths and one of the aspects of my sport that I love.
And to come back to this final, it was just fun.
I wanted to experience it fully, whether I was first or fourth in the final.
And that's what I managed to do.
Can you imagine starting over a four-year cycle to find the gold you still need?
Yes, definitely (smile).
Lindsey (Jacobellis, the American Olympic champion at 36) is proof that we can last.
She handled her final really well.
As far as I'm concerned, I love what I'm doing at the moment, I'm happy in my preparation and even more in competition.
But I insist on this, I really found the right balance between the two whereas before I was super happy in the winter and less so in the summer under the weight bars.
If I still have the fries and the craving in four years, I'll be there.
In addition it is in Italy, right next to the house, it will be great for relatives.
Your Games are not over with the team race, a novelty, which will take place next Saturday...
Yes it's clear.
I can't wait to try my luck in this event.
We don't know the pairs yet, it will depend on the boys' race tomorrow.
But I have no preference, everything will be fine with me!
