Favorites for the Olympic team title in Paris, Sara Balzer and the Blues train in the fencing room of Muc Escrime and in the facilities of Creps in Montpellier.
Crossing Place Jacques-Mirouze, bathed in sunshine and overcome by the heat, no one can imagine that in the basement, probable future Olympic medalists are training.
In the most complete anonymity and the much sought-after calm of the superb fencing room of the MUC Escrime, the sabre fencers of the French team multiply the duels on the pistes. Equipped with their masks that hide the face and a white outfit marked “FRA”, they make the sabre clash after one of their teammates in the role of the referee gives the commands: “On guard, ready, go!”
Balzer: “Enjoy the last moments”
Less than a month before the Olympic Games where the Blues will be favorites to win the supreme title in the exceptional setting of the Grand Palais in Paris, they are fine-tuning the final settings, not without a touch of impatience: “I am happy with the programme for the coming weeks,” says Sara Balzer (29 years old), leader of the French team and best swordswoman in the world rankings. We feel that the Games are coming, I can’t wait, we’ve been waiting for this for a very long time and time is starting to drag. I’m trying to enjoy the last moments, every emotion that runs through me and to reassure myself about my game. These are unique, rare moments that we may not experience again, you never know.”
Unlike Sara Balzer, Olympic team vice-champion in Tokyo in 2021, her partner Sarah Noutcha (24 years old) will participate in her first Olympics: “I’m a little impatient, I want to discover everything: the atmosphere, the competition, the village…” For the moment, they have put down their suitcases in Montpellier until Tuesday.
“A large and comfortable weapons room”
The almost complete Bleues team – only Manon Apithy-Brunet is missing – navigate between the Muc fencing room and the Creps. “This course allows us to meet up with each other but also to see the sun, to get away from everyday life and to enjoy beautiful facilities”notes Sara Balzer.
The atmosphere is studious interspersed with warmer moments between these women who know each other inside out and who will be aiming for Olympic team gold in Paris at the end of July: “Coming to Montpellier allows you to get away from Paris and its hustle and bustle but also to break with habits, explains Matthieu Gourdain, the manager of the French women’s saber team. The weapons room is spacious and comfortable, there are many tracks, one is protected from the heat…”
Hoping that they return to Hérault soon with the Olympic gold medal around their necks.
