In this second episode, a few days before the start of the World Championships in Budapest, she details her new way of working in Marseille, more focused on technique, and her quest for emotions to swim fast.

it makes me understand this mechanics of which I was not aware.

He gives me a lot of information and we'll see what we keep or what we don't.

For the moment, that's a lot of things to assimilate but I think that's the thing that can make the difference in Paris.

We can afford to try, we are still two years away from the Games.

But when you've done a swim all your life and you think too much about a technical gesture without managing to put all your power because you think too much, it's not worth it either.

He knows it and he sometimes tells me + Don't worry, do what you know how to do +.

it's a lot of things to assimilate but I think it's the thing that can make the difference in Paris.

We can afford to try, we are still two years away from the Games.

But when you've done a swim all your life and you think too much about a technical gesture without managing to put all your power because you think too much, it's not worth it either.

He knows it and he sometimes tells me + Don't worry, do what you know how to do +.

it's a lot of things to assimilate but I think it's the thing that can make the difference in Paris.

We can afford to try, we are still two years away from the Games.

But when you've done a swim all your life and you think too much about a technical gesture without managing to put all your power because you think too much, it's not worth it either.

He knows it and he sometimes tells me + Don't worry, do what you know how to do +.

"A big slap"

"I was disappointed with my French championships. The 100m butterfly was even a big slap. When you swim two and a half seconds off your best time, it hurts. But it was a blessing in disguise, that forces me to always question myself, to train ever harder. We discussed and analyzed this performance with Julien and the more we talk about it, the more I understand where it comes from. I hadn't had enough training, I had a series of illnesses and injuries, I had a lot of mental doubts about a new technique and I didn't have the flame for the French championships either. I know that's not my level but I'm not worried. In the end I won three titles and qualified for four events at the Worlds, so I see thata long way has been done."

Marie Wattel during a stretching session before training at the Cercle des Nageurs in Marseille, May 16, 2022 Nicolas TUCAT AFP / Archives

Seek the flame

only at particular times, and it helps performance.

If I wanted to do the same race as in Tokyo, I think I wouldn't be able to because we are not at the Olympics every day."

Marie Wattel during a training session at the Cercle des Nageurs in Marseille, May 16, 2022 Nicolas TUCAT AFP / Archives

Interview by Stanislas TOUCHOT

© 2022 AFP