How are you doing before these first Olympics? Have you recovered from this bad fall in Kitzbühel at the beginning of January?
It’s true that it wasn’t the best preparation but I was very lucky. It’s not a big injury, although I still have pain today. I fell, hurt my shin with muscle edema. The pain fades. But otherwise I feel good!
Yours had also been seriously hit in the arm at the start of the season…
No matter the injuries and the preparation, the motivation is there! You always have to try to turn things in the right direction. I injured my arm, but in the end, this injury, I lived it very well. It allowed me to recharge my batteries and return to my native land in Nice. Behind, the start of the season went very, very well. I would say that this shin injury is a little more annoying, even if it’s more minor, because it comes at a less good time. I’m not 100%, but the motivation, the determination and the work have been done beforehand. So there is everything to get something beautiful!
You said it, you came to take care of yourself, to recharge your batteries here in Nice. Was it important to take these positive waves to your native lands?
Of course, it was really a need that I felt. As soon as I have the opportunity, I come home to my family home. Before the start of the Games there I managed to come back for a few days. I recover energy, mental freshness. It’s really at the level of the heart and at the level of the head that it does me good.
At 25 you are moving towards your first Winter Games. How do we feel before this jump into the deep end, as you say?
The stress is not there yet. There is already a lot of joy when we receive business with these colors of France. It’s a real pride, a real satisfaction. The pressure will build crescendo until the race. But it is a real pride and satisfaction for me to have seized this first selection for these Olympic Games.
– Anthony Oberst
You will defend France and fly the colors of Nice too!
Of course, it’s something I always carry with me. These Nice colors I have them on my helmet during the World Cup circuit. And there, of course, I took them with me, in my heart. I always claim that I am not a mountain dweller. I am a city dweller by the sea and it is with this in mind and with this identity that I am presenting myself at these Games.
With these uncertain health conditions, do you think you can enjoy the event beyond the sporting aspect?
It’s a question of balance but yes I’m really going to feed on this everything I’m going to experience, because very few people have the chance to experience such an event in their lives. On the other hand, the idea is to really save energy and stay focused on performance. We are here for that, not to take a vacation. Yes these are my first Games, I have desires and ideas but I will have to adapt them to perform on D-Day.
Do you have a specific sports goal?
My motivation goes in one direction: to get a medal! To be honest, it’s more of a dream than a real goal. The goal, however, is to have no regrets. To give everything from the start to the finish, put all my energy into it, no matter what may happen. I want to play all the cards on the table so I don’t have any regrets once I cross the finish line.
Last year, you were talking about your childhood dream after your first podium in the World Cup… the Olympics are still above?
The Olympics are a dream come true! The Olympic medal is the dream of any athlete, in any discipline. It is the culmination of a career. What is important is not to close any doors. There are leaders and outsiders, that’s for sure, but what’s important is not to close any doors.
Your teammate at the Nice Interclub Nastasia Noens is taking part in her 4th Olympic Games. Does she give you advice on how to deal with the event?
We are on two different circuits so we didn’t see each other much before the start of the competition. But it’s really great to be able to be two to represent our club, our identity. With finally these two different stories but which will both be very beautiful I hope!
Have you learned a few Mandarin words?
No it is better not that I risk it! In France I can pretend to know a few words but here in Beijing it will be seen that I am bluffing! On the other hand, I wanted to wink at the Chinese people. This is why I personalized a helmet with the colors and especially the symbols of this country. I hope it will make them happy.
And what do these symbols represent?
To find out, you have to watch the race, the downhill and the super-G! I will also make a post on my social networks to explain the meaning of these symbols.