The European Judo Championship is a major event for French judokas, because it partly determines their selection for the Paris Olympic Games. As the competition opens in Montpellier, the French team finds itself faced with close duels in several weight categories.
The law of the Games is merciless: only one representative per country and per weight category. This means that even for talented judokas, there is only one place available for the Games. For some, victory at the European Championships could be a guarantee of selection, but nothing is certain yet.
Among the French judokas who must fight for their place at the Games, we find in particular Romain Valadier-Picard, who hopes to compete in the Games in the under 60 kg category. He will have to face Luka Mkheidze, bronze medalist in Tokyo, who does not yet have his place assured. The competition will be intense and only the best performance will count.
Among the women, the duel between Marie-Ève Gahié and Margaux Pinot is particularly anticipated. The two judokas, who are also teammates at PSG Judo, already faced each other three years ago for a place at the Tokyo Games. This time again, they must fight to win the precious sesame for Paris. Both athletes display unfailing determination, aware that every detail counts in this fierce competition.
For the French team, this density of high-level athletes represents a real headache for management. How to create a work environment conducive to performance while managing rivalries and pressure in the run-up to the Paris Games? It’s a major challenge, but the objective is clear: to put the judokas in the best conditions so that they can give the best of themselves on the tatamis.
In conclusion, the European Judo Championship takes on a special dimension this year for the French team. Judokas fight not only for glory on the European tatami mats, but also for the chance to represent their country at the Paris Olympic Games. These are intense duels and fierce rivalries which will take place in Montpellier, in the hope of winning a medal and getting a little closer to the final selection.