Valentin Prades experienced the personal sadness of Rio 2016, where he came to die at the foot of the podium (4e) of the modern pentathlon for his first Olympic Games, despite a furious comeback, on Carioca soil. He also experienced the sporting disappointment of not being able to defend his chances until the end in 2021 in Tokyo, because of the horse lottery (7e), in an empty stadium due to the closed doors imposed by the Covid pandemic.
“We clearly feel the pressure”
Will all these experiences give him extra soul and strength from August 8 to 10? The Ventabrennais, once again French number 1 in the ranking when approaching the Olympics, hopes so. This will not be too much in a very special context: in fifteen years of high world level among seniors, Prades has only played four international competitions in France. And again, nothing comparable with what awaits this summer, at the Arena Paris Nord (Villepinte) for fencing, and in the gardens of the Château de Versailles for the other events (horse riding, swimming and laser- run).
“We clearly feel the pressure, indicates this solid fellow yet so assured, strong, from the height of his meter 93. It’s not a question of ‘Am I going to miss it?’. It’s simply that we are going to play the Games, at home, in front of 15,000 people. Honestly, it’s scary.”
“A breathtaking experience”
And to quickly recover, sweeping away with a laugh: “That’s good too, it’s a stimulating situation”. The current world No.8 can be explained: “Already, playing in the Olympic Games is something incredible. But here, being at home… When I see the photo of the site, the stands are 50 meters high, there will be 15,000 people. For us (pentathletes), it will be a breathtaking, unique and frightening experience. As a general rule, we are not used to having tens of thousands of people so here, with an audience that is a little acquired to us, it will be. a unique experience. I’m lucky to be able to experience it. I’m not going to complain.
At 31 years old, Valentin Prades has enough experience and broad enough shoulders to consider the event. Its recent 2e place in the final of the pentathlon world cup, at the end of May in Ankara, reassured him. “I had a not easy start to the season, struggling to be consistent in the technical events (shooting, fencing), he explains. I did four competitions in six weeks, I didn’t have time to work between each of them. I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well in the World Cup final, which was the case, so I’m quite satisfied.”
“Nine weeks of full-on preparation”
Confirming at the same time its qualification for Paris-2024, after having won a quota in July 2023 at the European Games, Prades was thus able to skip the 2024 Worlds this week. A real relief because he was able to escape a grueling trip to China, where the heatwave is raging (more than 42°C). “It was ideal for me to prepare well for the Olympics, he confirms. It allowed me to take a break before really attacking the nine weeks of preparation that remain, at full throttle, to be able to do this gradually, as calmly as possible, even if we feel the pressure rising sharply.”
Also, Valentin Prades and his Insep pentathlete teammates are sometimes “challenges” in competition simulation, in order to better prepare, again, for all the hazards that could present themselves to them this summer. “We are especially preparing for the crowd, for the public, which will make a lot of noise, especially on the shooting (of the final and decisive laser run), he explains. We work on sessions with hecklers, people screaming, people waving flags in the visual field.”
“The support of the French public will inevitably give incredible energy”
Whatever happens, the Provençal – 2018 world vice-champion – has no fear of being inhibited by the atmosphere. On the contrary: he intends to attend the opening ceremony on the Seine on July 26 to use it as a preparation stage to meet the popular enthusiasm. “It can already make us feel what the crowd provokes, an audience at home, he insists. The support of the French can only boost me, even if there is an ounce of apprehension. When we are on the field, it will inevitably give an incredible energy which will perhaps intimidate others. But it has to be a home advantage for French athletes.”
