For a week, Clarisse Agbégnénou has been on an internship in Japan with the French judo team and Athéna, 8 months. Discussions with the Federation have sometimes been complicated to find an organization, allowing the champion to prepare for the Paris Olympics with her child. Conversely, other federations are used to seeing mothers pamper between two training sessions.
Emma Jacques, selected with the French handball team last week, met coach Olivier Krumbholz at the age of 3, when her mother, Mélinda Jacques-Szabo, took her in her suitcases to prepare for the Olympics. from Athens. Because from 2004, believing that “to be successful an athlete must be happy”, the coach opened “as a matter of course” the doors of the French team during the long training courses.
“There is a mother but also fifteen tatas”
The first time, it was a staff member who took care of the three children present, then the spouses came. “When we welcome mothers back, we have to take their needs into account,” explains Krumbholz. It brings something strong to the whole group. There is a mother but also fifteen tatas. »
In eighteen years, a dozen children have come to frolic among the handball players. “The rules fell into place naturally,” he adds. The kids eat with us, sometimes the families have dinner out, take the kids on their bikes. »
The sailing coaches remember Gabriel, the little boy of Camille Lecointre, double medalist in Olympic sailing. The boy was born in 2017 and before his return, his mother put things down. “She was asking to have her child with her, we sat around the table”, remembers Guillaume Chiellino, the DTN. Charline Picon had just given birth to Lou and the two sailing mothers turned the daily life of the French team upside down. “Without any hesitation”.
Financial assistance for parent sailors
“During the internships, the families created their cell, outside the place of residence of the France team. Parents join their children in the evening, like after a classic working day, ”says the DTN. The “parents”, because the device has also been set up for dads navigators, with financial assistance of 4,000 euros.
“It’s not in the job description, but the medical and logistics staff have put themselves at the service of the families, details the DTN. If necessary, the doctor is there for the children. And cots, high chairs or bicycles travel in the containers with the boats. “Our sport requires sailing 25 days a month, it is essential that parents are fulfilled”.