You have an Olympic gold medal and, now, the medal of honor of the City of Duras. What does this new distinction inspire you?
It was important for me to come back here to Duras, where I started rugby. I had to! It's been a while since I returned to Lot-et-Garonne because I quickly moved on to the Top 14. On top of that, it's November 11th. It is an important date for our country. I am very happy to live here.
You've had a series of crowd baths, autographs and selfies… Does it surprise you to see this enthusiasm still present?
It surprises me when I see the children and the emotions that we were able to convey during these Olympic Games. It's just incredible. We still don't realize it, especially when you see people telling you that they cried in front of the TV when I scored. It's a lot of emotions.
The volunteers of the AOCC Duras XV, a club from its beginnings, were there.
G. P.-B.
When we say that being an Olympic champion changes our lives forever, it does.
What has the arrival of Antoine Dupont changed in this France 7 team?
It changed a lot of facets. I think that, already, in terms of media coverage, rugby sevens has skyrocketed in popularity. It changed the way the referees and even our opponents looked at it. It was all good for us. And even for us, the players, it created an additional desire to surpass ourselves.
Four months after your title and the end of the Paris Olympic Games, have you come down from your little cloud?
We never come back down. We hear about it all the time, every day. When we say that being an Olympic champion changes our lives forever, it does. I am well placed to know that. It changed the way people looked, especially young people. I was in their shoes too, I had idols when I was younger. Now to be told that I am part of this nation is incredible. In any case, the Olympic Games are something to experience. Entering the Olympic Village, playing in a full Stade de France… There are so many little things that make it an incredible story. I think we really made history.
“We put the 47 on the roof of the world. We were happy to have experienced this together”
You were part of the generation of Agenais Hopes of Valentin Gayraud, Julien Lebian or Clément Garrigues who are now starters with the SUA. Do you still follow the results of your training club?
Yes, I am still in contact with my former teammates. It’s my generation with whom I played for a long time. I'm very happy for them. That they play one match after another and have fun, that's the main thing.
The SUA also recruited former septist Thibaud Mazzoléni who was excluded from the France 7 selection before the Olympics…
We had a great adventure together. Thibaud suffered a few physical problems during his career. But the fact of having experienced this world championship in Madrid with this title [des Sevens Series en juin 2024, NDLR]it was amazing too. We put the 47 on the roof of the world. We were happy to have experienced this together.
In the off-season, you were transferred from SUA, in Pro D2, to Usap, in Top 14. How was your arrival at this new club?
It happened very quickly. My goal was to quickly move up to XV. It was already in the back of my mind. I had to prove myself in training, and find my new marks. I quickly matched, with my first match sheet in Bayonne [1re journée, NDLR]. I had the chance and the opportunity to play several matches [6, dont 4 comme titulaire pour un essai, NDLR]especially to meet an audience in Perpignan, to play at Aimé Giral, it was just incredible. It’s enormous fervor. I am very happy to be able to continue the matches even if I am injured at the moment.
Is the French XV team a goal?
It's always in the back of my mind. Afterwards, I don't prefer to comment on that. I still have some marks to make in rugby union.
G. P.-B.
The Olympic champion came with his gold medal.
