At 35, for his thirteenth participation, Lloyd Soetens displays the same desire to win as a junior. “I know all the old people with whom I trained at INSEP, but many young people arrived, specifies the Judoka berruyer, engaged in less than 100 kilos. I am no longer on a high level dynamic, but I remain a fighter at heart. I aim for the podium. I don’t care who it will be in front, I just know that I’m going to hit him (laughs)… ”
Lloyd Soetens on good momentum
The club’s technical director, Ludovic Lebourlès believes that a ranking in the top 7 is well within reach for his protege this Sunday. “It would allow him to keep his place in the first division,” he adds. Even if he no longer has the time to train as much as before, Lloyd Soetens has prepared well for this meeting with a victory in the Rochefort tournament (label B), a podium at Noisy-le-Grand ( Excellence) and a runner-up in the Paris-Kyoto Cup. He can also rely on a solid experience of the high level (vice-champion of France in individual, European military champion and vice-champion of Europe by team with Chilly-Mazarin, in 2010). Also qualified for these France, his brother Alan had to forfeit for professional reasons.
Lloyd Soetens did not hesitate to sleep in his car to train at Insep
This Saturday, Bourges Judo can count on Adeline Gohier (-48 kg). For her too, it will not be a discovery. With only one training session per week (in Poitiers or Niort), the young 30-year-old approaches competition “without pressure”. “I’m mainly trying to please myself, because I’m closer to the end than the beginning,” she explains.
Adeline Gohier et Lloyd Soetens.
The BJ leader will be looking to get past the first round and get back in shape for the tag team championship. “It will be less hard for me, because I will not need to go on a diet (she will be in -52 kg, editor’s note), she jokes. And then it’s cool to be in tandem with Sarah (Bothy) in this category. »
Maelenn Cotard ambitious
Now licensed to the Maisons-Alfort club, the young Vierzonnaise Maelenn Cotard is one of the outsiders in -57 kg. “His goal is the podium, announces Stéphane, his father. She probably won’t be protected in the draw, but she should be able to respond against most opponents. A false step would be allowed against someone who goes far in the competition. For her, the area to improve remains her standing attack system. On the other hand, his qualities on the ground could well make the difference.
Vierzonnaise judoka Maelenn Cotard took the future European champion to the golden score before losing
Philip Roche
