Blagnac (France) (AFP)
For the young boxer of Blagnac Billal Bennama, who will be aiming for gold in the Tokyo rings for his great Olympic debut, "the Games remain the Games", even without spectators coming from abroad.
Until the Paris-2024 Olympics, passing - except rebound - through Japan this summer, the 22-year-old flyweight tells AFP his daily life as a high-level athlete.
In this second episode: a frustrating injury, a victorious recovery tournament in Germany and the Olympics which should not be able to attend those close to them because of the pandemic.
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"Risky Business"
"I got injured in training against a pro boxer from my club, Samir Ziani, who is European champion (in the super featherweight category). He punched me on the left side. J felt a little pain, but I thought it would pass. And finally I was told that I had a fractured rib. I blame him (laughs). Actually he didn't do it on purpose, it's Risky Business.
For a week, I felt it everyday when I breathed.
It also bothered me to sleep.
I had to wait a month and a half without boxing.
I was training, but I couldn't put the gloves on.
Only physical, a little technical, but it had to stay 'soft' because if you make a bad move it's dead.
I had to forfeit two tournaments in Bulgaria and Poland.
It hurt my morale a bit.
I need competition to progress.
But I managed to pull myself together, I could see it was getting better and better.
Fortunately it happened then and not a month before the Games. "
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The recovery in Germany
"I was very apprehensive after the injury, I only thought about that during the warm-up. I said to myself + if someone touches me on the rib, it's over. + I was a little tired after a long time without getting in the ring. At one point, I was hit on the rib, but I didn't feel anything. I told myself that the good Lord was with me and it was from there that I really enjoyed it.
I had three fights: the quarter-final against a German, the semi-final against a Brazilian and the final against a Kazakh, who was, like me, a bronze medalist at the world championships.
Three different styles and a big client with the Kazakh, which allowed me to situate myself.
Everything went well, I was really happy to win with the little preparation I had for this tournament. "
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Olympics without an audience
"It's a little disappointment. Without spectators, it's not the same atmosphere. But hey, the Games are still the Games. I'm going there to make a medal. Spectators or no spectators, frankly, it's not okay. To disturb me too much, especially since we are already used to this kind of atmosphere where there is nobody, where it does not scream.
It will be difficult for the family to come.
My father (Mohamed Bennama, trainer of the former world champion Mahyar Monshipour) wanted to come because he has never experienced it.
I wish he had come too.
When there is a landmark in the room looking at you, shouting, it makes you want to surpass yourself, but hey ...
I'm starting to get into it, I'm already in my bubble.
Now you have to stay focused, it will happen quickly.
We don't have time to think, we have to go for it and give everything.
A big preparation is coming over the next three months, it's going to be intense. "
Interview by Sébastien DUVAL
© 2021 AFP