Bronze medalist at the French junior championships in the over 78 kilos at the beginning of March, selected in the process to represent the Blues next May at the European cup, the athlete licensed in Lucciana continues her way to the – very – high level
It was March 6 at the Paris Judo Institute. Lea Machut, 18 years old, licensed judo-club from Luccianawon the bronze medal at the French championships juniors over 78 kilos.
The confirmation of a thunderous winter for the resident of the hope center, who despite everything feels a touch of disappointment: “It was very tough but I had a lot of fun. I had put a lot of pressure on myself and in the end, the podium is really good, the objective has been achieved even if I would have liked to go for another medal”.
Selected with the France team
Of a prettier metal. This is now what the athlete will tackle. Perhaps under the colors of the France team since the one who is ranked number 1 in the national ranking list has just been selected to represent his country at the European cup in Nanterre, next May.
A great satisfaction for Léa, who will discover the highest level and aims “to go as far as possible in this competition and to be selected for the following ones, by giving my all to pull out my pin of the game”. With, in sight, the European and world championships, whose participants will be chosen according to their results in the next three Europan cups.
In the meantime, the young girl keeps her feet on the ground and continues her studies remotely, in the first year of the SVT license. “It’s something very important to me. Judo is my passion but I don’t know if I will ever be able to make a living out of it. And even in the case of a professional career, you are never safe from injury or a problem. It is therefore essential to have luggage on hand ».
Despite her wisdom, Léa Machut seems well on her way to being talked about in a discipline in which she took her first steps at the age of four, almost by chance. And that she never left. Leaving the family cocoon for the hopeful center of Ajaccio four years ago, she has since made meteoric progress there, helped by a more sustained pace, more resources, more partners.
Gifted but perhaps not necessarily destined to embrace a professional career at the start, Léa had a click this season when, after having shone in several national competitions, she realizes that she is on the right track. And then there is the international tournament of Aix, which she won last December. “I just wanted to do things well, to move forward so as not to have any regrets. And that’s when I said to myself that this was really what I wanted to do, even if, once again, it’s still sport and you’re never immune..
“The Olympics? What a dream “
Very mobile for its weight, the judoka easily identifies its main areas of progress: “I’ve been working a lot on my strength for a year, through bodybuilding and muscle strengthening sessions. And I’m starting to feel more comfortable at that level, despite sometimes very heavy opponents. This work has helped me a lot”.
Next year, it should take off to integrate the France pole in Marseille. A stage that she judges “important to progress again and again. The objective will be to take as much experience as possible, advice and seize opportunities, without rushing..
And when we talk to her about the Olympic Games, if her eyes sparkle, she stays calm and refuses to get excited: “Obviously it’s in the back of your mind and it makes you dream. But I’m not one to project myself. We are getting there little by little, there are still a lot of steps to get there”.
The final word, the champion reserves it for those around her, from her coaches to her parents, including her friends and all those who support her. “I would really like to thank them all because without them I certainly wouldn’t be here”.
