She is finally allowed to sit for a moment, in a tiny room that has been converted from a storeroom into a TV studio: Clarisse Agbegnenou, Olympic and six-time World champion, has a bronze medal hanging around her neck and is smiling. Only her voice gives a hint of her emotional state. “To be honest, I’m really angry with myself. The quarter-final defeat (against Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard) was unnecessary, I miscalculated. I bet on Shidos, which turned out to be wrong. And I wasn’t completely focussed either…” The 31-year-old young mum then shakes her head and continues. “I’m in top shape and not tired at all after five fights. I could easily contest the quarter-final again. That makes me confident for the home Olympic Games in Paris. I’m absolutely ready physically and won’t be surprised again there. In Paris, I’ll be mentally ready from the first to the last fight. I can already promise that.”
Her haul of 11 World Championships appearances is unrivalled: 6 World Championship titles, 2 silver medals and now a bronze. “It’s true, the medal set is eventually complete. But I don’t think bronze suits my complexion – gold suits me better,” she says and laughs. “It has to be gold again in Paris.”
Gold-Clarisse will skip the mixed team competition on Friday. “The focus is entirely on Paris 2024. I don’t want to risk an injury . But I will be competing in the singles and mixed team events at the Games.” On the hunt for double gold!
Author: EJU Media