Paris (AFP)
Unmissable on the international scene of Olympic sailing, Camille Lecointre and Aloïse Retornaz, associated in 470 (double dinghy), were elected 'Sailor of the year 2019'.
Qualified for the Tokyo Olympics next summer, the duo succeeds Charles Caudrelier, honored after his victory in June 2018 at the Volvo Ocean Race, the most extreme race around the world.
Created in 2001, the prize was awarded for the first time to a 100% female duo. The last time a tandem was rewarded was in 2015 with Marie Riou and Billy Besson, quadruple world champions in Nacra 17.
"It's crazy, because it's always difficult to explain what we live on our boats, the dinghies, and to be there with great sailors, it's great", rejoiced Camille Lecointre, bronze medalist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The two sailors have made their mark this year by being crowned champions of Europe and having won a bronze medal at the Worlds in Enoshima (Japan) last summer.
"This is a great recognition, and a spotlight on our discipline that is not much publicized.This price makes you want to go get the gold in Tokyo," said Aloïse Retornaz, who was not the Olympic adventure in Rio with Camille Lecointre.
The duo also brilliantly won the test-event at the end of August in Enoshima.
Camille Lecointre formed a pair with Aloïse Retornaz, back on the water after giving birth to her first child, Gabriel, born in 2017.
The two champions were preferred to the tandem Charlie Dalin / Yann Eliès (Apivia), winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre en Imoca, but also Delphine Cousin (funboard), Nicolas Parlier (kiteboard), Axel Mazella (kiteboard), Pierre Mortefon ( funboard), Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier (winners of Brest Atlantiques).
The title Marin of the Year is a distinction awarded since 2001 by a jury composed of institutional, sports and media, and awarded by the French Sailing Federation. The public is also called to vote online.
© 2019 AFP