“I came across a predatory coach, but the whole environment is rotten”

Series From her adolescence on the tatami mats, Laurine, 39, remembers less the trophies than the violence endured in the world of judo. She speaks today about the humiliations and recurring attacks in the factory of champions who shaped her to never complain or break down.

“I was adopted at the age of 9 months and grew up in a violent environment. As a child, my parents forbade me from watching television, going to play with neighbors or inviting friends over. If I make the slightest noise, a slap falls on me. The rest of my family makes me feel guilty: if I get hit, deep down, it’s because I deserve it. As an escape, I lock myself in a cupboard to read thousand-page books.

As a child, I was the victim of incest at the hands of my brother. I know it’s not normal, but I don’t understand what’s happening to me. At 13, I attempted suicide. I struggle to contain my frustration and it shows at school. I have trouble sitting still, I ask a lot of questions. The teachers get annoyed. To channel my energy, my sports teacher recommends judo.

The dojo becomes my outlet. My trainer …