If Mélina Rantin arrived at boxing, and later kickboxing, “by chance”, she stayed there through talent and work and it is not this new international medal which will contradict this observation.
So in second grade, at the age of 15, it was a friend who suggested that he come and take part in the boxing trial class at the Dareizé/Saint-Loup club. “I wasn't necessarily interested in combat sports at the time but I followed her so as not to leave her alone,” remembers the boxer. I really liked the trial class. » And, in the end, it was she who stayed and evolved within the club, while her friend left for other horizons.
Chance sometimes makes things right, as the saying goes. If she started with one training session per week in boxing, which at that time took place in the Saint-Loup village hall, she chose, two years later, to get involved in competition. After an interclub meeting, she took a liking to fighting and the club directed her towards kickboxing for competitions affiliated with the federation of this discipline.
She finally left horse riding, which she practiced alongside Bully, to devote herself entirely to this new sport. What she likes most about kickboxing is “the coordination, the competition. It's a super physical and intense sport, you have to push yourself as much as possible to achieve your goals. »
As soon as she entered the competitive circuit, Mélina impressed and found herself, for her first year in light kickboxing (non-contact), champion of France. “It’s gone quite quickly over the years,” notes the sportswoman. After her baccalaureate, she started a degree in S taps (sciences and techniques of physical and sporting activities) at the University of Lyon, while continuing to compete in clubs. She also participated in the university circuit, helped by her teacher Serge Marzin.
Professional since September
During her second year of competition, she registered as a “class B amateur”, a category in which “you can press the shots”. She participated in two championships, which she won. The rise was inexorable towards an even higher level, that of semi-professionals. She won two medals there, one in gold and the other in silver, and confirmed her level one more year before launching, since this September, into the professional circuit.
Concretely, this means that she can now participate in “gala” matches during which the public pays to see the fight. “The more favored the boxer, the greater the bonus paid by the organizers,” explains the 23-year-old athlete. She has not yet had time to focus on preparing for this type of match, having participated at the start of the year in the European Championships in Athens, from 1 is to November 11 with the French team.
This first went through selections then two training courses, in Nancy and Reims, with the other athletes. In addition to that, she trained in Dareizé with her coach, Julien Lefevre, but also with other competitors at the Ring side gym in Dardilly. “This allows me to interact with people on the competition circuit because, in Dareizé, most practice for leisure. »
A first medal abroad
For her part, she trains six to seven days a week, with boxing classes but also running. At the same time, she launched her activity as a sports coach in Panissières in Pilates, stretching and fitness. She would also like to develop private coaching and is pursuing training in sports nutrition to diversify.
She had to hold on to go abroad for her first international competition, in a “very physical” format. With the team coaches and other athletes, she emphasizes “a good atmosphere. We know that we will be alone in the ring but, at the same time, the others are behind each fight.” His first and only coach in Dareizé was also present without being on site with calls and advice. “Of course, I wanted the gold medal,” Mélina regrets with a smile. But, for a first in this style of competition, with a truly different experience, many confirmed to me that a third place was already very good. »
She sees the future with the French team, even if “you will always have to be at your best because nothing guarantees participation in all competitions”. She would also like to launch her professional career soon with a first gala match at the start of 2025.
Born in Roanne, Mélina Rantin grew up in Pontcharra-sur-Turdine. Registered since she was 15, she is 23 today and is entering the professional circuit. However, she remains very attached to the club which allowed her to try and to her first and only coach, Julien Lefevre. “He inspired me a lot from the start. He has a very good career, having been world champion. » Thus, despite the difficulty of combining her desire to become professional and her favorite club, she considers that it would be “too hard not to have [son] coach for the next competitions. Despite having big goals, Mélina has no plans for the moment to leave Vindry-sur-Turdine or her association.
