The American coach knew you.
“Yes, he said to me, 'Oh, you're Bolingo with the white line.' Like what… (laughs) With him, the flow passed very quickly. He welcomed me with great kindness. I was looking for someone who would listen and with whom I am on the same wavelength. I think I found it.”
Was it a dream for you to go to the USA?
“No, not at all. I could very well have gone to Ivory Coast for example. The most important thing is to remain open-minded and take the risk of failing. It would have been easier to change nothing and to continue to evolve in an environment that I know perfectly. I preferred to leave everything and join a place where I don't know… anyone.”
gullAll my instincts will have to wake up if I want to exist here.
It's a new start, at 31 years old.
“Indeed! I have seen relatives do this big move (Editor’s note: she quotes Nafi Thiam and Marie-Josée Ta Lou) and I said to myself: why not me? I can rely on these positive examples even if it is not a guarantee of success for me.”
Will Cynthia Bolingo take a new direction abroad? “She needs another environment”
Had this need for change become a necessity?
“I am convinced that with Carole I could still have done great things. But I wanted an environment that challenged me. In Belgium, in training, I no longer felt the need to push my limits. Gold in Florida , I will simply have no choice! All my instincts will have to wake up if I want to exist here.”
What do you expect from the upcoming season?
“It will be a year of transition, so I will have to be patient and not too hard on myself. Ideally, of course, I would like to get back to my best level, that of 49 seconds over 400m. But I know what it costs, and I will first have to regain confidence… and stay in good health. I will benefit from the medical staff present on site.”
How did Carole Bam, with whom you worked for twelve years, react?
“It remains difficult for her, but the fact that she understood my decision and supported me in this process made it easier.”
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