World and European karate champion, the Frenchman puts his second title on the line starting this Wednesday in Porec, Croatia.
In Lisbon, at the beginning of May, he played - and won - the first competition organized since March 2020, and the stop of the circuit because of the pandemic.
As he arrived in full swing towards the Tokyo Olympics, he had to take his troubles patiently and motivate himself to set out again to attack the Games, for the great Olympic first of karate.
World number 1, European and reigning world champion, Frenchman Steven Da Costa flies over his category (-67kg) in karate.
For his re-entry competition, after fourteen months without an official event, the fighter from Mont-Saint-Martin (Meurthe-et-Moselle) won the round of "Karate1-Premier League" (the equivalent of the World Cup) of Lisbon, early May.
Before defending his title at the European Championships in Porec (Croatia), from Wednesday, he tells
20 Minutes
these months without a fight, his comeback and the preparation for the Tokyo Olympics, where karate will make its very first appearance. - before leaving the program in 2024 in Paris.
Beyond the victory, what do you remember from this back-to-school competition in Lisbon?
It's okay, there's a lot of positive because I'm winning, and I couldn't wait to see where I was at world level.
I had redone test matches, where I also won, but it's not the same as an official competition with the top 50. So that's a good omen, but there is still some negative, c 'is normal.
I still had the brake a little, I did not manage to release myself completely.
Nothing alarming I think, it is due to the loss of benchmarks.
Was it important to show the competition that even after more than a year of hiatus, you are still number 1?
Yes, it is very good for confidence, and to erase some doubts that there might be.
It's also good in the eyes of the referees, I think.
It leaves the mark that there was before the stop.
But more generally, I was just eager to find the atmosphere of competition.
I didn't miss it too much at first, but now was the time, it was starting to take way too long and I couldn't wait to see where my competition was.
I didn't fight everyone, but I didn't notice a big difference.
I don't think the hierarchy has changed much.
How did you experience the end of competitions last year and the postponement of the Games?
Very well initially.
The postponement of the Games was a very good thing for me, we were coming out of two years of qualifying where it was the obstacle course.
We started to see big injuries, but that's normal, we shot too much, we had a competition every two weeks, in a different country, for two years.
A crazy pace, it's as if we had made the equivalent of eight years of career during those two years.
So I told myself that I was going to be able to breathe and really prepare myself well.
But then it started to take a long time ...
Exactly.
When we arrived in January, I began to say to myself that the Games weren't over.
Because you start to doubt, to wonder if you're still in the business.
I was on a good dynamic, it might cut my legs.
That's why it was urgent to resume.
Besides, it's hard to re-motivate yourself.
You get used to your cool little life, without a goal near you don't want to hurt yourself when you train.
Fortunately, I am with my family (his brothers Logan and Jessie are also part of the France team), we could get away with training.
When did you really resume intensive sessions?
I didn't really turn off the ignition, I just turned the volume down.
We trained less, but still hard.
I don't know if it was a good thing, because I started to have little glitches.
But maybe it was just the fall of the pressure after those two years.
Your body relaxes, you hurt yourself more easily.
But hey, here it is again.
And now, the Euro is coming ...
Yes, it will come quickly.
And then after, that's where I'm going to get into the thick of it for the Olympics.
There will be two months left, the machine will be on its way and we will not stop.
Think you're where you wanted to be this time of year?
I couldn't tell.
The main thing is to be ready on the big day.
If I am told you lose the Europe but you win the Games, I sign.
You can always miss a competition.
One day is never like another, we'll see.
You are number 1 in your category, expected at each competition.
How do we manage this pressure?
It's not really pressure, because I don't tell myself that I don't have the right to lose.
I think it's more of a pressure for others.
I don't consider myself a favorite when I go to fight.
Each time, I come in order to do my job.
If it goes all the better, otherwise something was missing.
If I sometimes put a little pressure on myself, it's more out of pride than in relation to others.
Have you worked on this detachment from the results?
No, it's quite natural.
I think I have my head on my shoulders, I am well surrounded.
No one puts higher than what I am.
Every time, when I win, I'm happy but it's still sport.
I'm not saving a life, I'm nobody.
I set goals for myself and I do everything to achieve them, it's that simple.
These Games are going to be a great first for karate ...
(He cuts) ...
and the big last one too.
What do we say to ourselves, that we absolutely must not miss?
This question comes up often, of course.
As I say every time, if I have to win the Games, it is because it was my day, and if I do not win them it is because it was not to happen and that I missed something .
But I'm not going to put the goal higher or more important than it is, although of course the Games are the Holy Grail, the most important goal.
I'm not going to ruin my life.
I go there to win, as for all competitions.
If I miss it I'll be super sad, in any case I'm going for the gold, it doesn't matter if it's the first, the last or whatever you want.
Are you eager to discover the Olympic atmosphere, to be able to say to yourself "I am an Olympic athlete", with all the others, even if the conditions will be particular this year?
So frankly… no
(he laughs)
.
I am very happy to be qualified for the Games, it was very hard, but being a tourist does not interest me.
They tell me tomorrow you're going to the Games but you lose in the first round, I'm not even going.
Even if there is a great story, even if it is very beautiful, that does not interest me.
It's my way of being.
When we go to competition, whatever the country, I do not leave my hotel room.
There are plenty of them who will visit, and I am not criticizing, each one does as he wants, but not me.
It would mean that I'm not in my thing.
Even at the Games, I won't get picked up because it's not my way of preparing.
I am very party animal, but afterwards.
What do you think of Paris' decision to take karate out for 2024?
(Sighs)
I fought, I did my best when it was decided, but the rest was not in my hands.
It's political.
To be honest, I cried karate.
It is not even personal, I will be 27 years old, it turns out I will not even be in the nails, I did it for this sport, its history, its fame.
We are one of the most popular sports in the world, so I took it as a great injustice.
And I don't like it.
I find that for sport, it's ugly.
It's a big disappointment, and it's not like we expected it, anyway.
Did you believe in maintaining it in 2024?
It's not even that I believed it, it's that for me it was done.
France is part of the top 5 in the world, we bring back a lot of medals, I did not think that we were going to be replaced by sports where in addition we will not bring back gold, I think.
No one came to see us to justify this decision.
Breakdancing and everything, for me they're not athletes, they're artists.
And then that does not interest them.
The best, they don't give a damn about the Games, it's not their delirium, they say it themselves.
I don't blame them at all, they have nothing to do with it.
I wish them to perform in Paris, to realize their dream.
I just defend my sport, and I don't understand.
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