Two years after giving birth to her daughter, judoka Clarisse Agbégnénou won the bronze medal on Tuesday, July 30. Even if the Frenchwoman dreamed of gold, this medal remains a great performance for the Tokyo Olympic champion.
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From our special correspondent at the Arena Champs-de-Mars
The Arena Champs-de-Mars shook as the 8,500 spectators made a hell of a noise to accompany Clarisse Agbégnénou in her quest for the bronze medal after missing the final of the JO 2024. If she had ever lacked an ounce of energy, a hint of confidence, she knew how to gather them in the fervor of the French supporters during the classification fight against Lubjna Piovesana. She did what was necessary with an ippon against the Austrian to take the last place on the podium. Then, she went to share her happiness with her daughter in her arms in front of this public who pushed her so much.
Clarisse Agbénégnou won the bronze medal in the under 63 kg category, three years after his Olympic title in Tokyo and eight years after her silver medal in Rio. The quest was looking difficult for Athena’s mother, who had been through a lot since giving birth. After pregnancy, the first year back from competition was difficult psychologically and mentally.admits the judoka. There is a physical aspect and inevitably a technical aspect that has changed behind it. »
Los Angeles Goal
This Tuesday, July 30, after two tough first fights against the Israeli Gili Sharir and the Brazilian Ketleyn Quadros, we thought that Clarisse Agbénégnou was going to sweep everything before her, especially after seeing her expeditiously in the quarter-finals against the Kosovar Laura Fazliu, who had beaten her twice last year.
The semi-final was looking good against the Slovenian Andreja Leski, against whom the Frenchwoman had a 5-0 in the face-to-face. But a waza-ari 15 seconds from the end of the fight shattered Agbénégnou’s dream of gold.
And now, what will come next after this Olympic treble? The judoka of Togolese origin had never thought of doing the 2024 Olympics, but the Games at home are not to be missed. And at 31, she admits to being confident and motivated enough to do Los Angeles in 2028. “We’re not going to stop there,” she said after her fight. The quest is far from over.
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