“I have mixed feelings about this Games. I could have won; I felt so strong, but even if I feel as if I am the strongest, I didn’t win. So, it’s hard for me to balance myself with the idea that the strongest don’t always win. Of course, when I see the competition and how the event goes for many others, I realise I’m a new mum and I don’t sleep and yet I have a medal. Others don’t have medals when they can sleep and so this is something crazy really, a big achievement.” Clarisse made it clear that everyone has their challenges while chasing their best level and that no-one arrives by mistake or without work. It is clear that she is still processing her new medal.
A few minutes pause in interview as team coach Christophe Massina arrives to discuss team tactics and prepare for the first match for Team France.
“I have a medal, it’s good. It’s not that greatest moment that I wanted but with time I think I will appreciate this medal and we are aiming at the team medal too; that will be beautiful.” The team did win the team gold, again, and they did it in style with Clarisse ensuring the team drew level from behind and would have a chance with the tiebreak.
“I am disappointed, I am, that’s the truth right now, in this immediate period. It was a big opportunity to do something really big and that has gone. If I won it would be even bigger and people could take seriously what women can do. This feels like the momentum has been disturbed. I feel now that someone can say that it is possible to achieve things but maybe not come back to the very top after having a baby. Without the title some will feel that it is not as exceptional is it should have been but I know what it took to come here and I still want that door for mums to stay wide open.”
Clarisse went to support the team in their first and second matches but continued to think about her individual performance after the quarter-final.
“Overall, a lot of people see that all is perfect in France and that in this big team we have perfect unity but we had to put a lot of work into this and with so many different people. Having to make our enormous team smaller en route to the Games means keeping everyone close is much harder. I, for example, returned to the team, back again but now with Athena. I didn’t want to say to anyone that I’m here with her and you can’t stop it; I wanted them to accept me with her, accept us as a family within the team. It has taken time for all to see how it can work but really everyone has accepted this."
"The travelling has been good for Athena and for us and now the team loves her. They don’t just approve of her, they accept the new me and the new way to work. Logistics have been a challenge. The girls particularly, as we work so much together, are her extended family. Everyone knew that if we can be together in a good way, we can be successful. The group has some uncomfortable dynamics some times but it still works. Everyone understands everyone. Everyone puts themselves in a good position so we can all work together, always. It is or should be like this in any family.
Next, it is time for holidays, another baby maybe too, but I don’t feel finished with judo yet. I feel now how my body and mentality is and I know I’m stronger than before. I don’t have the feeling to move on right now. I have been able to get back to the level to be world champion and an Olympic medallist again. For my opponents, I think I feel even stronger than before. I’m different and have the life I wanted without choosing between the different parts of my life and that freedom is my power.”
