Q: Two gold medals at the X Games then a silver medal at the Olympic Games, is that an exceptional start to the year?

A: "Yes, it's an exceptional start to the year, an exceptional start to the season, I'm super happy. I fulfilled all the objectives I had set myself a little bit, it couldn't be better. It's seasons as we like them! (Now) I'm happy to be back in France, I stayed 15 days in Beijing, it seems short on paper, but it's very long, because we are a bit in a world apart there, in a bubble. We are cut off from the outside world and there I feel like I'm going back to real life. It's special but it feels good."

Frenchwoman Tess Ledeux during the big air freestyle skiing final on February 8, 2022 at the Beijing Olympics Manan VATSYAYANA AFP / Archives

Q: Was life difficult in Beijing?

A: "The pre-departure especially, it was all the tests, the pressure of the result (of the test), we were afraid each time when we received our results email. It was really scary, stressful, because we knew that our Olympic dream could fly away at any time. Once there, it was super +safe+ (safe, editor's note), we were tested every day. It wasn't really heavy because it was well done Frankly, we were well guided, it was a really serene environment. It didn't change us too much from the usual Games in the end, in the (Olympic) Village everything was normal. There were open common areas, the rooms games, sports, etc. We could get together if we wanted to.. I experienced my Games 100 per cent unlike those of four years ago.And despite the difficult sanitary conditions, finally on site, we were really good.

Q: How was Beijing for you?

A: "I was simply discovering a new country. It was a new destination, so I was a little amazed, I wanted to discover this place. The competition sites were really beautiful, we didn't nothing to complain about, it was really perfect. It was very pleasant to ski, different, new."

Q: What is your upcoming schedule?

A: "There are still the last two (rounds of) the World Cup (Tignes / FRA and Silvaplana / SUI), it will be for fun, to end the season on a good note. I want a vacation, but I don't know if I'll have a lot of time because I'm going back to school at the end of April. I'm doing a DUT in marketing techniques. I'm trying not to drop out of school, that makes me helps to find a balance, to keep a somewhat normal life as a young girl. Even if skiing takes up 90 percent of my time, if I can put the last 10 percent in school, it's always a win . And then, I also have a 20-minute video that looks back a little bit on my last two years."

Q: Your performances are like an evolving women's freestyle ski...

A: "Today, we have found our place. There is still a long way to go, but ten years ago, everyone made fun of girls in freestyle skiing, we said that they didn't have their place, that it didn't have the level, etc. Today, there are boys who come to congratulate us after our competitions and say to us: + you really were up to it today, you impressed us + . These are compliments that give pleasure, we realize that we really have our place in our discipline and that even the boys are a little amazed sometimes. We know that we make things happen."

Frenchwoman Tess Ledeux, during qualifications for the big air freestyle skiing final, February 7, 2022 at the Beijing Olympics Manan VATSYAYANA AFP / Archives

Q: What are you going to do with the Olympic medal?

A: "I have a small shelf with all my medals, the trophies go to my grandma's hair salon, but the important medals, I keep them near me. Maybe it will have a different place."

The joy of French skier Tess Ledeux, silver medalist in big air, during the protocol ceremony at the Beijing Olympics, February 8, 2022 Manan VATSYAYANA AFP / Archives

Interview by Sabine COLPART

© 2022 AFP