Nineteen consecutive participations: that’s the number to put forward. The women’s team of the Judo Club Cortaillod – Neuchâtel is participating for the 19th time in a row, this Saturday in Geneva, in the final four of the Swiss League A championship. The national interclub title is at stake. Over the last two decades, the judokates of Cortaillod have won six Swiss championship titles and two European interclub vice-championship titles. Their track record speaks for itself, it is not the result of chance, but of a club focused on performance sport, which cultivates team spirit: “We have cultivated this state of mind since we were little, with this idea that we travel together, that we participate in competitions together. The team championship really has a special flavor,” explains Désirée Gabrielle, the technical director of JC Cortaillod – Neuchâtel. “For some, it’s really the time to transcend themselves. The group spirit allows them to fight at a higher level than what they usually produce. »
In 18 appearances in the final four of the Swiss championship, the JC Cortaillod – Neuchâtel women’s team has collected 16 medals. She has only missed the podium in the last two editions. For Désirée Gabriel, it is time to correct the situation. The final for the title is not out of reach: “We are capable of getting into the final. But, clearly the objective is the medal,” says Désirée Gabriel.
In the semi-finals for the women’s interclub title, JC Cortaillod Neuchâtel will do battle, at 2 p.m. this Saturday in Geneva, with Zurich’s Uster.
The composition of the team
Margot Stolz, Morgane Farrin, Nuria Ferreira (-52kg) ; Chiara Baroni, Clémence Polier (-57kg) ; Marion Liengme, Maude Althaus, Aninna Suter, Jenny Reichenbach (-63kg) ; Jovana Pekovic (+70kg). /mne
