Three weeks after a bitter reunion at the helm of the Paris court, the two ex-lovers should probably live together in the Euro warm-up room in Sofia, where Alain Schmitt now officiates as head coach of the Bulgarian team.

Why feel a little apprehensive?

"No, none. I will see what will happen. In any case, I will be + focus + on my competition", she assured the microphone of RMC Sport.

"It takes a lot of strength, few people realize what I've been through and I hope I'll make it an asset for competitions. Few people would have done it so I'm pretty proud of myself there above in any case," added the Olympic team champion in Tokyo.

In this context, the double European champion (2019 and 2020 in less than 70 kg) starts her competition on Saturday morning against the Romanian Serafima Moscalu, 79th in the world, and can count on the support of the management of the Blues.

"The staff is aware (of the context), they are vigilant, they pay attention to that", assures Larbi Benboudaoud, the director of high performance of French judo.

"Now we have to move forward. We will support him as best we can."

"In his bubble"

Margaux Pinot accuses Schmitt, who was her trainer at the Etoile Sportive du Blanc-Mesnil club, of kicking her, hitting her head on the ground and trying to strangle her during an altercation in the night of November 28, 2021.

Margaux Pinot at a press conference, accuses her former companion and trainer Alain Schmitt of blows against her, on December 2, 2021 in Paris Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP / Archives

The case has taken on unexpected media coverage and societal color since the resounding release at first instance of the 38-year-old coach, who denies the facts and claims to be the victim of a "media lynching".

The battle between the two judokas then continued through the media before a reunion during the appeal trial on April 8 at the Paris court, where the prosecutor requested a one-year suspended prison sentence against Schmitt.

The decision is expected on June 10.

"With her, as with the rest of the team, we are benevolent with our athletes and attentive to their slightest problems to try to find solutions so as not to generate poor performance", explains Benboudaoud.

"There is a problem that is unprecedented. We will try to anticipate as best we can. The coaches have discussed with her, reassured her," he continues.

"But when she's in her bubble, I'm sure there won't be a problem."

Since this affair, Schmitt has taken on new duties at the head of the Bulgarian team to prepare for the European Championships at home.

The French Amandine Buchard during the European Championships, April 29, 2022 in Sofia Nikolay DOYCHINOV AFP / Archives

"We know it's going to be difficult for her, but we're going to be united, we're going to be there for her," says Amandine Buchard.

"We are going to make sure that she does not leave the competition and that she remains focused on these objectives."

"We will be there for her, to encourage and support her. She is a girl who has a big mind and I know she will get over that," she continues.

"I think it will go well."

© 2022 AFP