Guests of the show “On refait le sport” on RTL this Sunday, December 1, Marine Boyer and Samir Aït Saïd returned to the Paris Games. If Marine Boyer indicated that she did not want to end this Parisian Olympic experience, the two gymnasts also insisted on the importance that the voice of the athletes be now heard and listened to by the federation so that France does not relive the Parisian Olympic episode. .
Fourth in the rings in Paris, Samir Aït Saïd did not hide his disappointment and sadness just a few minutes after his Olympic final in Paris. Devastated and with his eyes shining and turned downwards in the mixed zone in the basement of the Accor Arena in Bercy, he nevertheless immediately confided that he would start again on a new Olympic cycle, with this objective of seeking this medal that he covets. both in 2028 in Los Angeles.
The first to speak on RTL this Sunday evening, the French rings specialist explained that he had not yet digested this Parisian Olympic experience. “It's the greatest pain I've ever had (…) I was touched internally”, he confides before adding: “When I talk about it today, it still makes me suffer.”
For her part, Marine Boyer also explains that these Paris 2024 Games, which should have been a wonderful celebration tinged with beautiful and unforgettable memories, were very difficult to experience. “The competition was catastrophic”, she begins. “We had a difficult year and we were the ones who suffered all the problems with the federation. We were the ones who were impacted, and unfortunately things broke down at the Games.”
Faced with this observation, the world and European medalist continues, “you have to speak openly and say when things are not going well to try to change things.” Samir Aït Saïd then announced that he had brought things up before the Games, but regretted not having been listened to. “Now, we have to quickly question ourselves, whether from the federation, the coaches and the gymnasts (…), train hard (…) and be able to be listened to by the federation.”
To be listened to and not be subjected to pressure and decisions that impact athletes who ultimately find themselves constantly on the front line, without expressing themselves publicly. Openly. “There was a war between the federation and the Avoine club, and we suffered everything”, continues Marine, regretting that the Federation has “let slip“Kaylia Nemour,”all this for a war of egos“. She even speaks “of a mess.” Because yes, 20 years after Emilie Le Pennec, the story could have been beautiful. Very beautiful. But the captain of the Blue explains that the gyms “had the right not to say anything“. And in Paris, everything ended up exploding in mid-air. “We had the impression that it was a nightmare, that we were going to wake up but in fact no”, she confides. “I think everything blew up at that point. All the pressure we had, all the political problems, the loss of our coach three months before the Games (…) The words of the athletes were not listened to and we are powerless in the face of all that.”
Eyes towards the future so as not to relive this again
Now, all eyes are on the future. New Olympic cycle and new team at the head of the federation after the election of Dominique Mérieux, first woman president within the FFG, the athletes hope for a revival. “I want to trust Dominique” , lance Samir. “Already, she did not wait to be elected president to hold a meeting and ask me what was or was not in this cycle, so that is already a very good thing. We must put aside cronyism and get the French team back on track. Our voices must be listened to otherwise we will go straight into the wall.”
As for Marine Boyer, if she shares Samir's speech on the importance of athletes' voices being heard and that it was for this reason that she had registered with the committee of high-level athletes, she also answered one of the questions that many have been asking since the end of the Paris Games. If she had announced her retirement from sports after Paris 2024, can she really end her career on her Olympic experience in Paris? On this disappointment felt and not yet digested. She who left such a mark on the history of French gymnastics with her longevity, her charisma and her results throughout her career. For his role within the French team. If for the moment she explains taking time for herself, to the question, “you don't close the door definitively” upon return, she replies: “I’m not closing the door (…) I won’t be able to finish on that.”
So will we see Marine Boyer again with the French team leotard in an upcoming international competition? Nothing is impossible…
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