It had been since 2018 and the European Junior Championships that Dimitri Florent had not worn the France leotard. He will meet him again on Saturday in Troyes for a competition against some of the best competitors in the world.
For the gymnast from the Municipal Society of Bourges, these six years were not a long, quiet river. So much so that he welcomes these debuts in the French senior team “with pride”. “I’m going to talk about this again, but there was my accident,” he immediately recalls. A very heavy fall on the high bar, on the spine, where he almost damaged his nervous system. Assessment? Two fractures, an operation and a very long rehabilitation.
“It could have put a big brake on my career,” he sums up today. Since then, Dimitri Florent has returned to his level. He took two second places in the last national reviews and above all has just been crowned French champion… of the horizontal bar! These results convinced the selectors to trust him. “In a big tournament, with big nations,” he knows.
Olympic opponents
The British, Swiss, Italians and Germans will come with their Olympic team. Ready collectives, wanting to shine in a month in Paris. Berruyer therefore knows that he will not imitate his teammate Julien Saleur, winner – already in Troyes – during his first selection. “Normally, there would have been apprehension, but given the context, it will only be pleasure,” anticipates Dimitri Florent.
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Unlike the nations previously mentioned, France will field a young team. The objective will be to gain experience and allow them to rediscover or discover the sensations of international competitions. “We know that it will be very complicated to make a podium, the English will undoubtedly aim for the podium at the Olympics, the Italians are in the top 5-6, we are younger, not with the same objectives, knows Berruyer . Matching on the same stage as these guys will boost us for the future. »
“It was a bit long”
A boost that is all the more important as his first selection coincides with the start of a new cycle. “From the start of the 2024-2028 period, I will be able to join training courses and competitions, so I will have the opportunity to make my place in this collective,” analyzes Dimitri Florent. This selection, combined with his recent good results, will therefore push him to continue to concentrate on gymnastics.
“Six years was really a bit long,” he rewinds. I had a period, especially before my injury, where I felt like I was touching the selections. » But they did not arrive. This allowed him to realize that patience was an important virtue. A virtue rewarded on Saturday with a blue, white and red leotard.
Ludovic Aurégan
