For these eight young people, the same dream: to win a medal. These “friends” as they describe themselves practice the same passion. Internally, their days are punctuated by classes and judo.
A group of friends
Every evening of the week, the waltz is the same under the direction of Laurent Imbert. Technical director of the great Cognac Judo, a sort of conductor, he allows all disciplines to work in total harmony in this club which has 405 members.
He feels a lot of pride when he talks about these eight Charentais who will represent the colors of France more than 2,000 km from here. Above all, it’s “a great group with a great atmosphere,” he says about his students who work seriously and with great intensity in training at the Alcide Gibeaud municipal dojo.
For Victoria Lefrancq, 16 years old, 9th in the European Championships a year ago, but who “wants to take her revenge this year”, this group of eight young judokas, “they are friends, a bit like family” , says the young Cognac native.
So much so that Marie Jardot, victim of a cruciate ligament rupture during training, will be traveling to Romania. For her, there is no question of missing this deadline. “It’s what kept me going and the atmosphere of the trips is special,” she describes.
Some have already experienced the joy of an international competition. Erwan Jestin is one of them. The strongest boy in the group is already 1.90 m tall and weighs 90 kg at 16 years old. Last year, he won bronze at the European Championships. “This year I want to win,” proclaims the judoka.
Lisa Chagnaud exudes the same serenity. 7th at the last European Championships and silver medalist at the French Jujitsu Combat Championships, the young 15-year-old from Charente is clear: “this year we have to go for the medal”.
The ambition of an entire club
A serenity which is partly explained “because the coaches give us confidence”, explains Julie Le Ven. For the one who was born in Cognac and comes from a family of judoka, confidence and determination are two words frequently used in his vocabulary.
Noa Guitteaud is of the same caliber. The 17-year-old is convinced that kindness is the strong point of this group. He ends his speech by thinking of his friend Mathéo, “the most deserving among us. »
“Last year he didn’t go far from Europe,” he explains.
Mathéo Duez is 18 years old. For him, the excitement is great as the deadline approaches. “Good stress” and a desire “to aim as high as possible” felt by those who will discover the joy of an international competition.
Pierre Chartier feels this good stress too. The youngest in the group is 14 years old. He also exudes great serenity as he approaches his first participation in the European Championships. “Good stress even if it shouldn’t be,” he says, full of determination.
This group of friends will fly to Romania on April 3, with a common goal: to bring home a medal at the European Championships.
An ambition and a desire to surpass oneself which shines through in a club which continues to develop and has real chances of medals for Laurent Imbert, who hopes that this small group “will allow everyone in the club to raise their level “.
2024-04-02 13:58:03
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