Gymnastics | William Émard, “like a 4-year-old child”

(Paris) “I’m a 4-year-old kid in an Olympic village right now. It’s incredible!”

That was the first thing William Émard said to us on Wednesday afternoon, as he entered the mixed zone. The gymnast and his teammates from the Canadian men’s team had just finished their podium training. These two hours and thirty minutes were their only chance to try out the Olympic facilities at the Arena Bercy before the competitions began on Saturday.

Alternating between 20 and 30 minutes per apparatus, the teams were able to test the six beautifully designed machines on pink and powder blue platforms, the colours of the Paris Games.

“Felix [Dolci] said earlier that in [le gym d’] training, it says Paris 2024, but it’s still training in a kind of dark warehouse, said Émard. When we entered the arena earlier, it was like: we’re here, guys, we’re here!

Suddenly, memories of those hours spent on the sofa, watching the Olympic Games on television, came flooding back to him. “I said to myself: ‘Oh my, we don’t watch the Games anymore… we do them!'”

The last few days have been nothing but discoveries for the Laval resident, who is taking part in his first Olympic Games ever, like four of the five members of the team. And clearly, his visit to the athletes’ village did not disappoint him.

“It’s like a small town,” he said. “There are little cafes, food pretty much everywhere. We have little bikes to get around the village. There’s a big workout gym. The food court is big and beautiful.”

Above all, there are “Olympic logos everywhere.” “Every time I see one, I say to myself: ah… nice “, he exclaimed, smiling, placing his hand on his heart.

“What I like best about the Games is meeting people from other sports. […] I was talking to people from the Canadian Olympic Committee because that’s what I want to work in. Just understanding the dynamics, the job, their story, where they come from, that’s what I love.”

Very active on his social networks, the 24-year-old athlete took advantage of an afternoon off on Tuesday to do a question and answer session on his Instagram account. A way to share his Olympic experience with his 14,000 or so subscribers.

“What a mistake!” he said, laughing. I tried to answer everyone as best I could. There were some really relevant ones, but the question I got most often was about cardboard beds. Are they comfortable?”

So, are they? “They’re really good.” Take that as a hint.

” Gorgeous “

Obviously, the gymnasts on the Canadian team all have different personalities. Felix Dolci, for example, has an approach that is completely in contrast to that of his teammate. There is no question of letting oneself get too carried away by excitement.

“To be very honest, I don’t even think I’ll have the chance to see or do everything. [au village] because I really try to be as professional as possible in my approach, he explained. […] Yes, I want to have fun, but I also have a mission that is close to my heart.”

Dolci calls everything around him “beautiful.” Food, beds? It doesn’t matter: “As long as I can sleep somewhere and there is food, I’m happy.”

“The competition venue is beautiful, but I always have in my mind that I’m here to perform. I want the world at home to be proud of me, my parents to be proud of me. That’s all that really matters… That’s all that matters,” he said twice rather than once.

Arriving in Paris on Sunday, he felt that his pace was “too monotonous” and that he lacked energy. On Wednesday, during training on the podium, “the fire” showed up, metaphorically speaking. “I feel like I’m starting to boil from the inside.”

“Physically, there are definitely some challenges here and there. I have some small problems with my knees and legs. My hands are starting to open a little. But I have a whole medical team with me.”

The 22-year-old received some massages on his right leg during Wednesday’s training session. But nothing that will prevent him from delivering a performance worthy of his talent, he assured.

“I just want to come home and say, ‘I’m really proud of what we accomplished, no matter what. Whether it’s pain, whether it’s bruises, I’m going to push, push, push.'”

“I feel awake here! I feel in my element!”