“We are no longer in education, we are in health,” argues Mélina Robert-Michon

Emmanuel Macron wanted two more hours of sport for middle school students. But the government is putting an end to this experiment launched in 2022 in more than 160 establishments. Some 10% of the 7,000 colleges in France will have tested it. A relevant measure, according to the executive, but too complex to generalize. She will only concern colleges classified as priority education, REP/REP+.

“I understand that it is complicated to set upreacts Saturday November 16 on franceinfo Mélina Robert-Michon, the standard bearer of the French team at the last Games, Olympic vice-champion in discus throwing at Rio 2016. But when we see that where it was tested, the feedback was very positive, it’s all the more frustrating.”. “We are no longer even in education, in sport, we are in healthinsists the athlete. We see it, we recover teenagers, adults in less good health afterwards”.

“It’s almost an investment for the future: yes, it has a cost, yes, it’s complicated to put in place, but you have to have a longer-term vision.”

Mélina Robert-Michon, the standard bearer of the French team at the Paris Olympics

at franceinfo

“It’s getting them used to having this sport reflexcontinues the athlete, because, for those whose family doesn't play the game, doesn't realize all the benefits it can have, it allows them to get through the process.”

The increase in the number of sports hours will therefore only concern colleges classified as REP/REP+. “Obviously, it’s better than nothingrecognizes Mélina Robert-Michon. Afterwards, I especially want everyone to be able to benefit from it too. It's not even sport, it's just moving. We are not asking them to become high-level athletes, we just want these teenagers to move and take care of their health. It was also an opportunity to introduce them to sports they didn't know about and activities.” concludes the discus thrower.

Léon Marchand, French swimming star, quadruple Olympic champion at the Paris Games, also discreetly expressed his disappointment by topping an article from The Team shared on his X account Thursday morning. Ditto for table tennis player Simon Gauzy, who entered three emojis holding his head in a desperate look.

The Minister of National Education, Anne Genetet, immediately responded on X: “We are not abandoning this ambition, on the contrary: we are adapting it to make it more effective, fairer, for the working classes.”