Tokyo (AFP)

He would have dreamed of playing in an Olympic final as a sportsman but it is ultimately in another role that he could have the opportunity to live one: three times medalist at the world judo championships, Matthieu Bataille is participating this summer. at the Tokyo Olympics as a referee.

The dark suit and tie have replaced the kimono, but the shoulders and broad build have not changed.

European champion in 2004, bronze medalist at the 2007, 2008 and 2010 Worlds, Matthieu Bataille is still at 42 a young retiree from high-level judo and a young referee.

"It's not at all something I had in mind. But in 2017, the international federation set up an accelerated course for former world medalists. It started like this. Since then, I have refereed Grand Prix, Grand Slams, then the European Championships, the Worlds and now my first Olympics, "he told AFP at the end of June.

The presence of high-level veterans in refereeing is still "something a little new", explains the man who still teaches judo in his club at Etaples, on the Opal Coast.

"We are perhaps four or five fighters out of the 16 referees selected for the Olympics," he said.

And of course, this elite athletic background - we still talk about someone who beat Teddy Riner in competition - "helps a lot".

- the right positioning -

"It helps me to know when it's going to attack, to understand the standing-ground links, the carpet exits. Tactically, we can see where it's going", details the former triple champion of France.

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The rest of the preparation is done "on video, not so much on the athletes but on delicate situations, to analyze fights, find the little details that will make things go better".

Basically, the most difficult thing for the ex-athlete, used to walking all over the tatami, was to find the right position.

"You have to know how to position yourself to see the angles of attack. I was used to moving and fighting. It's still a bit new."

But even if the exercise is more static, the refereeing was for Matthieu Bataille "an opportunity to keep a foot at a high level".

"I had remained in judo but there was a lack in relation to the life of an athlete, to roam, to be in contact with the best," he said.

- "grandiose" -

As on the mats, the selection was not obvious, with between 150 and 200 referees selectable at the start of the Olympiad, then fifty and thirty over the lists and evaluations, for finally only 16 judges selected for the Olympics.

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"As an athlete, the Games were my dream, although unfortunately I didn't get a medal. And when I got into refereeing, it was also the N.1 goal. OJ in Japan, in this room (the legendary Nippon Budokan, note), it's grandiose, ”says the man that the general public has also come to know in Arthur's TV shows.

In Tokyo, Matthieu Bataille would of course like to referee the Olympic final, which he has never been able to play as a judoka.

"But if it's the French athletes who are there, that's fine with me too. I know the hardship of athlete life, so if they are all in the final, I'll settle for the match for 3rd place and that's for me. will go, ”he smiles.

And so that the Blues do not have to worry about refereeing, he has for them this simple advice: "I did not take care of it. I told myself that I had only to put on a nice ippon neat and that was it. "

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