Mathilde Gros, a renowned track cyclist, is preparing to represent France at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (July 26 to August 11), which will take place in her hometown of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. She shares with us her excitement and expectations for this event that promises to be magical! BY VANESSA MAUREL. Excerpt from WOMEN SPORTS N°32.
Mathilde Gros has always trained at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines national velodrome. That’s good, because that’s where the 2024 Olympic track cycling events will take place. A plus for the young woman. It’s just an incredible chance for us athletes to be able to experience this! Games at home will remain a unique experience to live! », she exclaims.
“Of course it will be an advantage!”
Considered one of the great French hopes for a medal for these Games, Mathilde Gros also believes that riding in a familiar place like the national velodrome of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines will be an undeniable asset. Of course that will be an advantage because we will be supported by the public! », she continues. “ We will have pressure but we must let it go and think positively! The French public will give us wings. »
Participating in the Olympic Games in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines represents for Mathilde Gros a different experience from previous editions, notably that of Tokyo where the restrictions linked to Covid made the competition more difficult to manage. It was difficult without spectators. I was very stressed, I had a lot of pressure. Now I know what it feels like and I do everything to prepare myself as best I can! »And it is also in front of her family that she would like to be able to collect the most beautiful medals. “ I hope I have enough space for them all to be present during the tests. », she tells us, since without a doubt, the geographical proximity should facilitate their movement to encourage it.
Furthermore, to encourage readers of Women Sports to attend the track cycling events in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Mathilde Gros highlights the beauty of the national velodrome, the flagship of the French Cycling Federation, and the uniqueness of this discipline: It’s a discipline unlike any other, the velodrome is magnificent! The French must come and see us and support us! »
As for her objectives for the Paris Olympics, Mathilde Gros is clearly aiming for ” the most beautiful medal ” and expects this event to be marked by the support of the French public and unique moments shared with her loved ones! In any case, she can count on Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and the Women Sports teams to be behind her!
The Games in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines: Details of a multi-sport program!
The Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines urban area, known for regularly hosting major international sporting events, will once again live up to its reputation by hosting the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Several Olympic events will take place on SQY lands: track cycling and para cycling on the track, at the Vélodrome national de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, BMX on the BMX Stadium, golf, at the national golf course, mountain biking on the Elancourt hill….
But Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines does not stop at “simply” welcoming sportsmen and women. The urban area will also offer “the largest fan zone in the department and in the west of Paris”, labeled Club 2024 by Paris 2024. This 40,000 m2 site located in the heart of the SQY Leisure Island “will allow Saint-Quentin spectators, and more” to enjoy this great celebration. On the official website sqyetlesjeux.fr, the urban area is making our mouths water with a foretaste of the program: “Giant screen to follow the events live, meetings with athletes, sports initiations, multi-sport practice fields, rugby and wheelchair rugby, gym parkour, a dojo with entertainment, archery… But also festival-style evenings and concerts… All in a warm place, set up for the occasion with catering and refreshment areas to meet up and enjoy with family and/or friends… The Made in SQY talents and artisans will also be in the spotlight and the stands will be hosted by Saint-Quentin associations!” We can’t wait!
For more information, visitsqyetlesjeux.fr
