Eternal shooter of the "Braqueuses" of the London Olympics, the pocket point guard (1.69 m) with sure shots, retired international since 2017, launched the long run of the Blues that her teammates extended with an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021.

"End of suspense, this time I stop!", wrote Tuesday on social networks the player, aged 40, a few hours before the quarter-final first leg of the Championship of France that she must play with her team, located in Mont-de-Marsan, against Bourges, club of her great years.

"I will enjoy these last moments on the courts, with you," promises "Cap's" who hangs up his sneakers with at least one title this season: the Coupe de France won ten days earlier against Asvel. The second in a row.

As soon as the 2022 edition was won, the leader, also three times vice-champion of Europe in blue, had surprised her world by announcing in full festivities on the field that she was extending the adventure by one year.

But not this time. "If I only spoke by listening to my heart, the love of this game would keep me going until eternity. But if I want to be honest with you, with me, I feel like I have to stop there, "says the one who became in early April the best scorer in the history of the Women's Basketball League.

The year too many she needed

"Since the beginning of the year, it has been difficult. Physically, I have more pain when I get up in the morning," she told L'Equipe. "Maybe it was one year too many, but I had to do it to get to the end of my path."

Celine Dumerc, captain of Les Bleues, crowned European champion with the France team on June 20, 2009 in Riga (Latvia) © ILMARS ZNOTINS / AFP/Archives

The rest of this one is all found for Céline Dumerc. Retired international since 2017 with for 262nd and last selection, a final --lost-- of the Eurobasket, the former N.9 of the Blues is already since 2020 manager of the women's France team.

"We still have a quarter-final to play against Bourges, said the insatiable competitor on Tuesday. And why not more if we let ourselves be carried away by sweet dreams."

The native Tarbaise, who made the great years of the Tango de Bourges, carried to six titles of champion of France, can collect an eighth personal national title and a second with Basket Landes after the sensation of 2021.

To find a hole in his record, you have to squint your eyes: he lacks only a medal at the World Cup and, in club, a title in the Euroleague, despite two participations in the Final Four.

Céline Dumerc embodied the golden years of French basketball with Tony Parker, her classmate at Insep who shares with her same year of birth (1982), same jersey number (9) and same position.

Celine Dumerc, wearing the jersey of Bourges, during the Euroleague match in Gyor on January 31, 2013 © ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP/Archives

The leader is also off the floor: in 2021, she revealed her homosexuality alongside five other high-level athletes in a Canal Plus documentary entitled "Faut qu'on parle", a rare speech in the silent world of sport.

© 2023 AFP