The “Pink Rockets” have their new recruit, and she is an Olympic judo champion! Frenchwoman Amandine Buchard, who aims to participate in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in rugby sevens and in her historic discipline, has just signed up with Stade Français.
The capital club, which plays in Elite 2 in rugby, the second division of the French championship, has just made its arrival official in a press release. Former Paris Saint-Germain judokate, Amandine Buchard also joins the judo section of Stade Français.
“From a very young age, I have always warmly supported Stade Français,” assures the individual bronze medalist of the Paris Games in comments reported by the club. I still remember the jersey that my father gave me when I was little, a symbol that represents my passion for rugby, and for this club. (…) Having the chance to play in a multi-sport club like Stade Français is for me the perfect combination to calmly prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.”
The club hopes to “promote bridges between disciplines”
“We are delighted with the arrival of such a great champion and an endearing personality who has won over all French people,” comments Pascale Piquemal, president of Stade Français. His versatility and professional influence make him a model of determination and daring for all athletes, especially the youngest. We will put all our resources and infrastructure in support of its dual sporting project, and do everything possible to ensure it is successful. »
At 29 years old, Amandine Buchard, who until now played rugby in Federal 2 (fourth division) with Noisy-le-Grand (Seine-Saint-Denis), is preparing to wear the colors of Stade Français in her two disciplines . The club also hopes to “promote bridges between disciplines”, while “encouraging younger generations to explore new sporting horizons. »
“Rugby was my resource activity to prepare for the Paris Games,” explained the native of Noisy-le-Sec during the Olympics. With a period of tatami saturation, which can be explained by the sequence without any real break between Tokyo and Paris, this discipline gave me a second wind. » She will find in the women’s squad two players from the French rugby sevens team present at the 2024 Olympics: Anne-Cécile Ciofani and Camille Grassineau.
