A girl can knock down a boy in judo. This is the message that the Tahitian federation wants to convey. In this Polynesian championship, the fights are mixed. Objective: to cross the different categories, because “judo is a sport that requires meeting several types of opponents: right-handed, left-handed, smaller or larger”, explains Franck Bellard, technical executive of the Polynesian judo federation. “And if we are always with the same ones who weigh the same – and on the territory, it’s small, so it’s always the same two or three per category – it’s difficult to progress. So the objective is to cross these categories while respecting the moral and physical integrity of each one, so we try to ensure that the templates can meet”.
Each judoka first faces opponents of his category. This is the “classic” championship. Then, place to the open fights. Girls can meet boys. A daunting challenge, but not insurmountable. “Diversity is an advantage and a disadvantage for girls and boys”recognizes Arnaud Laboube, trainer of the Tahitian dojo. “The boy, he takes a risk because losing against a girl is not always easy to assume. On the other hand, for young girls, it is a challenge. There is a form of surpassing oneself, of going to the end and realizing that they are capable of it”.
Maïlee is the perfect example. Among the youngest, in the category over 63 kg, she faces a boy 20 kg more. In the spirit of judo, by using the strength of her opponent, she unbalances him then immobilizes him on the ground until Ippon. This formula also makes it possible to aim for two medals like Justin who defends the colors of the Tahitian dojo. He achieves the double in gold.
Mixing the categories to offer more opposition to the judokas, a bet made for these championships. The event also serves as a good preparation for the minimal selection: it will participate from March 26 to 28 in the Coupe de France.
