French judokate Clarisse Agbegnenou won her first gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
In his club in Champigny-sur-Marne, in the Paris region, it was time for euphoria on Tuesday.
"She tore everything up. She's a champion. Nothing else to say," comments Eric, one of the club's members, on Europe 1.
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"We're dreaming! Our eyes sparkled and now it's the champagne that sparkles."
At the Champigny-sur-Marne judo club, in the Paris region, Eric finally enjoys Olympic gold, a cup in his hand.
Finally, because his club partner, Clarisse Agbegnenou, won this Tuesday at the Tokyo Olympics his first Olympic gold medal in the category of less than 63 kilos.
A charm that had escaped her in 2016 at the Rio Olympics where she finished on the second step of the podium.
Finally, also, because all the licensees of the club woke up early to get to Japanese time on Tuesday, as Eric tells at the microphone of Europe 1.
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"She is entering the pantheon of French judo"
"It stung a little ... At 3:30 we were there, we made the coffee," he said. "The hall was ready. It was tense until the final. She came and she won. She tore everything apart. She's a champion. Nothing more to say." The club's physical trainer, Mathias Ricard has accompanied Clarisse Agbegnenou over the past five years. During this preparation, "she put herself in more complicated states than what we have seen today," he underlines. "It's still a lot of effort five years, it's a long time. It's a sport that is difficult but it has come back stronger" since her defeat in Rio, he continues. "VS'is the patron of the category and now she enters the pantheon of French judo with certainly the most beautiful female prize list. "
Beyond the victory of Clarisse Agbegnenou, these Olympics are a consecration for the club of Champigny-sur-Marne.
And for good reason: Monday, it is another judokate of the club, Amandine Buchard, who had won a silver medal in the category of less than 52 kilos.
With these very good results, the president of the club, Philippe Sudre, could not hold back a few tears: "Of course I am moved when I know what these athletes have done. Two medals in 48 hours at Champigny-sur- Marne ... Are we not, in all modesty, the center of the world today? "
"I want to win the gold medal when I grow up"
Among the youngest of the club, we can already imagine taking over from the two champions. Léandre, 5 and a half years old, sees much further than his white belt. "I want to win the gold medal when I grow up," he explains in a shy voice into our microphone. For him, it will certainly be a bit tight for the Paris Olympics in 2024. But on the side of the Champigny club, we promise to support and train new champions to shine again in three years. In France this time.