Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin 10:13 p.m., October 13, 2022

On the occasion of the release of her book "Live according to her values ​​like Cléopâtre Darleux", the goalkeeper of the French handball team looks back on her pregnancy during her career as a professional sportswoman.

She takes the opportunity to retrace her journey to the Olympic title in Tokyo.

Show the way to those who doubt.

In her latest book entitled

Living according to her values ​​like Cléopâtre Darleux

, the goalkeeper of the French handball team wanted to reassure these women, who like them, are going through or have gone through a period of pregnancy during their professional career.

A double life that the sportswoman knows well, since she gave birth to her daughter Olympe, in November 2019.

The one who plays in the Brest club, in the first division of the French championship, feared "the reaction of her club".

"It's never a good time to be absent for a team. There was this feeling of abandoning the team", explains the goalkeeper.

"I was pleasantly surprised to come back so quickly"

But her desire to become a mother is stronger.

Nine months of maternity leave later, and here she is again, already on the court.

"Our body is really magical, I was pleasantly surprised to come back so quickly. I recommend it to all sportswomen", enjoins the handball player.

An inspiring voice to the highest levels of handball authorities like Philippe Bana, the president of the French Federation who, a few minutes earlier, had declared on Europe 1: "Cléopâtre Darleux, it's a new generation of women, those who are able to show that they are both players and mothers. Real fighting women".

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Remuneration during pregnancy

Becoming a mother during a sports career, a difficult decision to make but which has been reinforced by a new agreement: since March 2021, women can be paid during maternity leave.

This text became the first collective agreement for professional sport practiced by women.

A big step forward for them.

"The players' union has worked a lot on this and today we have 12 months' salary compared to three before, whether for pregnancy or for an injury", rejoices Cléopâtre Darleux at the microphone of

Europe 1 Sports

.

And even if Cléopâtre Darleux did not benefit from it directly because her pregnancy took place in 2019, it is certain, according to her, that "this recognition will push more and more women to take up the challenge of having a child during a career". 

This happy episode has in no way taken away any warrior spirit in the handball player.

Quite the contrary.

This double life, as a professional sportswoman and as a mother, has accentuated her thirst for victories. 

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The DNA of Victory

Cléopâtre Darleux is therefore a woman of challenge.

Reigning Olympic champion (in Tokyo in 2021), the professional player has set new goals.

Starting with the next Euro which starts next month (November 3), in North Macedonia.

But it is above all the Paris 2024 Olympic Games that could mark the high point of his career.

Winning the title, in France, in front of her home crowd, would be "a dream" for the Les Bleues goalkeeper.

And for that, she intends to work hard.

Between family life and sporting goals, the calendar promises to be busy.

But nothing scares the goalkeeper, she who has the DNA of victory in her genes.

Supported by her family, the handball player is now fulfilled in her professional and personal life.

And she intends to demonstrate it on the handball courts.