Rennaise Camille Prigent won the silver medal at the European Canoe-Kayak Championships in Prague on September 20.

-

Vit Simanek / AP / SIPA

  • The Olympic slalom selections take place until Sunday in Pau.

  • Sacred vice-champion of Europe three weeks ago in the Czech Republic, Rennes' Camille Prigent is the favorite among the women.

  • The young woman dreams of the Olympics, of course, but she does not want to make it the only goal of her career.

Three races to get his ticket for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

This is the Olympic challenge that awaits young kayaker from Rennes, Camille Prigent.

Until Sunday, the best French athletes will compete in the whitewater stadium of Pau, the stronghold of Tony Estanguet, for the Olympic slalom selections in canoe and kayak.

A competition that promises to be cruel once again with only four sesames that will be issued (one per category K1 and C1 for men and women).

𝐉-𝟏 ⏳ # RoadtoTokyo 🇯🇵



The Olympic Slalom Selection for Tokyo starts tomorrow at 9:30 am at the @PauCanoe whitewater stadium!

🤩



🖥 All the races will be broadcast live on TV on France 3 Noa!



👉 Info on: https://t.co/OBRKZCMfOc@SportEDF @FranceOlympique pic.twitter.com/yoZjJ4MVuS

- FFCK (@FF_CanoeKayak) October 7, 2020

"It will still be very high because there is only one place at stake," said the licensee of the Rennes Kayak Club, who will leave with the favorite sign on her back.

“Anything can happen in a slalom race, the counters are always reset to zero at the start,” she says, just to relieve herself of the pressure.

"I'm not just focused on the Olympics"

The 22 year old young woman arrives in any case in Béarn in sparkling form.

Three weeks ago, she shone at the European Championships in Prague by winning two silver medals in both team and individual.

A hell of a performance for the Breton kayaker, landed in the Czech Republic without any landmark.

"With the health crisis, we were deprived of international competitions for several months," she says.

So it was hard to judge his level compared to foreigners.

Especially since some were able to train during confinement, which was not my case ”.

Like all athletes, Camille Prigent also had to manage the one-year postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.

"A wise and appropriate decision", according to the young woman, who even sees an advantage.

"I will have a year of preparation in addition to progress and get closer to the best," she says.

But before discovering the waters of Tokyo and following in the footsteps of Emilie Fer, Olympic champion in London, it will therefore be necessary to triumph in Pau.

"It is of course the objective to go to the Olympics next year and win a medal at home in 2024," says the kayaker.

But I'm not only focused on the Olympics, I also want to win a title of European champion and world champion, it is just as important for me.

"

Sport

“It's not a motivation, it's a rage!

», Describes Mehdy Metella, who returns from injury

Sport

"I told myself that I was not a year away," says judoka Cyrille Maret

  • Canoe

  • Reindeer

  • Selection

  • Olympic Games

  • Sport

  • Kayak