On the red and yellow tatami of the Alice-Milliat sports center in Ivry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne), students from CE1 to CM2 of the Rouge et Bleu school in Mantes-la-Jolie (Yvelines) face to sixteen great champions, licensed from PSG Judo, all categories combined.
Olympic champions, champions of Europe, of France, by team or individually, the children meet "stars", as Hawa, 11, puts it in his own words.
Impressed, but not intimidated for all that, these primary school students follow workshops with the greatest French champions as game partners.
Under their watchful eyes, children learn to control a jump landing, firmly hold an object in their hand before rubbing themselves against real judo holds.
On the tatamis like in life
This whole approach is linked to integration through sport.
The objective is "not only to let off steam but also to solicit them on other skills through sport", explains Laurent Rocco, head of pedagogy and quality at the PSG Foundation.
Thus are organized activities dedicated to the development of motor skills, creativity, but also to the transmission of “rules of life”, such as fair play, he adds.
For the children who are not used to wearing the kimono, the evening begins with learning the notion of respect.
“We have a partner, we salute him,” explains Julien Boussuge, coach at PSG Judo.
“It is a value that will serve them in sport as in life”, adds Amandine Buchard, Olympic vice-champion of – 52 kg in Tokyo in 2021.
Other values that Amandine Buchard and Marie-Ève Gahié, recently European champion of - 70 kg, try to transmit, mutual aid and the acceptance of defeat.
The two judokas will be regularly brought to share their experience around visits organized by the Federation.
A project that Amandine validates: “We try to be more present in the territory to be able to meet them and I think that's great.
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More and more frequent moments of sharing with the champions
Despite a busy training program, professional judokas therefore multiply meetings like these "with great happiness", assures Amandine Buchard.
She herself remembers coming out of “eyes full of stars” from moments of exchange with other champions at the same age.
From now on, she returns the favor by transmitting in turn to the youngest.
Others, like Marie-Ève Gahié, did not benefit from an introduction to the discipline in the same way.
“I'm from Paris, but I didn't know judo through judo like that
(…),
they have a real chance of discovering this sport that way”.
Marie-Ève Gahié, European champion in -70 kg, and young girls pose on the tatami in Ivry-sur-Seine.
/PSG Judo
As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approach, the Judo Federation is trying to increase the number of meetings between children and its medal-winning ambassadors.
The objective is also to trigger sports desires and, why not, to seek new licensees in a discipline which today has nearly 525,000.
"Judo was their passion, they worked hard but, at the same time, they had fun because it's fun," says Julio, in CM2 class.
Children therefore retain the perseverance and fun of these champions, which they will also be able to apply.
The message got through.
