Mélanie Dos Santos only took 11th in the individual all-around competition for the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.
A great disappointment for the Frenchwoman, who approached her first Games with great ambitions.
She admits to having been overtaken by the pressure, and it is not the first time.
From our special correspondent in Tokyo,
She dreamed of a historic medal for French gymnastics.
A little too much, perhaps.
Mélanie Jesus Dos Santos (21), European champion in the discipline in 2019, took only 11th place in the individual all-around at the Tokyo Olympics, this Thursday, just ahead of the other Frenchwoman, Carolann Heduit.
With honesty, she debriefs this complicated evening - and gives her feelings on the great absent, Simone Biles.
Its competition
“I am enormously disappointed with myself, I could have done a lot better but I was overcome by stress.
There was a big stake, that of taking 3rd place, it was important for me so I put a little too much pressure on myself and I couldn't manage.
I felt it right from the start, I didn't warm up properly, so it stressed me even more and I didn't manage to pull myself together before my first stint [on uneven bars].
So it was a bit messy, and then it was complicated to get back into it.
But I held on well, I didn't fall, I can be proud of myself for that.
"
A good lesson
“Unfortunately, it had happened to me before at the world championships, where I could have gone for a medal and I missed it.
The hardest thing for me is to keep the same mindset throughout a competition.
By team, Tuesday (France finished 6th), I felt better, it was more fun, I felt a lot less stress.
I have to work on this aspect even more, I will come back stronger.
I can still officially say that I am an Olympic gymnast.
"
Simone biles
" It is complicated.
Simone, this is not a robot or a machine.
Her pressure is all the time, and not just in the gym.
it was too much, she preferred to withdraw and I think it is a very good choice on her part.
She wanted to take care of her health.
I admire his choice because it is not easy to give up the Games.
This is what we have all been waiting for for years.
But she did well.
"
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After gold in the all-around competition, Mélanie De Jesus Dos Santos won the floor
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Tokyo Olympics 2021
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