Returning to under 81 kg where he was world champion in 2013, Frenchman Loïc Pietri dreams of the 2024 Olympics, after Rio 2016. In the meantime, he will be at the Grand Slam in Paris, the first Grand Slam in the history of the judo, which takes place on February 5 and 6.
At 32, the man who is no longer really a junior still has this “ flame which allows him to consider participating in Paris 2024. Present in Rio in 2016, he missed out on Tokyo, and would see himself finishing a busy career at home.
Still “ the crocs »
” I put a date in mind, and I remain fixed on the Paris Games “, immediately advances the Nice, following an Olympiad in -90 kg not very successful. In four years, he has only made four Grand Slam outings. After the 2016 Olympics, not classified in – 81 kg, he decided to move up the category.
” It was a life experience, and I try to learn from it. The Olympiad before, everything was shining and everything was beautiful. After this complicated Olympics, I understood what was important to me “. The vice-champion of Europe admits that this failure gave him “ the crocs “. Often, failure makes you humble, and Pietri has transformed this frustration into a strength.
Loic Pietri started this new season with the title of champion of France. What give him balm in the heart, before this immense challenge to represent France in a year and a half.
” At the Paris Grand Slam, there are points to be scored, and that’s important “, he points. In the next six months, Loïc Pietri wants to climb the rankings of the international ranking list and raise his level. For memory, apart from Teddy Riner, Loïc Pietri is the last French crowned world champion over the last twenty years.
To be able to shine, even at the end of a career
Today, with the experience », Loic Pietri believes that his judo has improved. ” I waste less energy than beforehe points out. But sometimes the recoveries are longer and I can’t train like a 20 year old. But, I have good sensations and feeling. The challenge is to succeed in training properly without injuring yourself. “.
The one who became at the age of 23, to almost everyone’s surprise, the tenth French male judoka to become world champion and the first in the category of less than 81 kg, still believes in him. ” Deep down inside, I think you can shine, even at the end of your career. You have to go with your guts, and forget your emotions. It’s doable, many have done it “, insists Loïc Pietri who favors the physical, the technique, before the mental.
” If he puts all the assets on his side and manages to put in place less energy-intensive movements, and be more in control of the opponent, he can be an Olympic medalist. », Estimates Baptiste Leroy, new boss of the French men’s Judo team. In short, Pietri must manage the tactics and his body.
Passionate about judo, which he sometimes considers ” a game “, like a game of chess, Loïc Pietri, almost born on a tatami (his father is a former international judo player), remains lucid about what he can do. All that remains is to apply it to be there in the summer of 2024, where it could once again enter the history of its sport.