Oscars Midol – Oscar monde: Antoine Dupont, the gift of ubiquity

Nothing can resist Antoine Dupont : champion of France and winner of the Champions Cup with the Toulouse stadiumthe captain of the French selection also rose to the roof of the world in 2024, winning a gold medal last July alongside the French septists. “We always want more, but this year I couldn't really do morehe smiled on stage this Monday evening. I was lucky enough to win all the competitions I participated in. I appreciate this privilege. It's difficult to realize things when you're in it, but I prefer to have a long-term vision. I'm 27 years old and I'm looking at all that there is still to gain, rather than looking back.” This incredible baraka allows him today to win the Monde de Midi Olympique Oscar. “I know it’s starting to be a lothe confided recently about the trophies he collects. It's flattering but we shouldn't dwell on it and continue to look ahead. In Toulouse, as in the French team, we have a young and ambitious generation: we can still accomplish lots of things, together. » In recent months, the notoriety of Antoine Dupont has far exceeded the glory known in their time by Serge Blanco, Jean-Pierre Rives or, closer to us, Sébastien Chabal and Frédéric Michalak. “With the Olympicshe said this fall, we go beyond the framework of Rugby; we even go beyond the framework of sport. I think there are a lot of people who weren't interested in sports and started supporting athletes at the Olympics in disciplines they didn't even know about. That’s what’s beautiful, that’s what’s unifying. […] Obviously, greater notoriety followed for me, but it was something that happened gradually. It didn't just happen to me overnight. » ;

Coveted by the biggest general media, under contract with various international brands (Volvic, Pure Essentiel, Bitpanda, etc.), the said “Toto” nevertheless has few words to explain its incredible success. “We train every day to win but others do it just as much and necessarily don't have the opportunity to lift a trophy at the end of the season. But the hardest thing is to stay at the top and continue to win: we have experienced this in recent seasons, in Toulouse and in the selection.”

A future at the center?

Regularly compared to an “extraterrestrial” by his teammates, Antoine Dupont masters all the gestures of rugby and on the subject of the golden boy of Castelnau-Magnoac, it is often said that he would probably be capable of playing in all positions of a team. team of 15, the first row and “the cage” excepted. In Toulouse, there was recently talk that the captain of the XV of France would also be used in the center in the coming weeks: “It’s a discussion that we had with Ugo Mola (the manager of Stade Toulouse, Editor’s note) some time ago,” said the person concerned several weeks ago. I am curious in everyday life but also in the context of my sport: each time, in training, I try to move from my place of number 9 and try to find other freedoms on the field, even if I already have a lot in my position…”