Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Baptiste Addis, from the Manduel associations forum to the Invalides shooting range

Baptiste Addis a découvert le tir à l’arc à l’âge de 10 ans. MAXPPP – BOILEAU FRANCK

At 17 years old, the kid from the Arc Club de Nîmes enters the competition this morning. Attention phenomenon.

All roads lead to the Olympics. That of Baptiste Addis tells what the associative fabric is in France. An essential link in high-level sport. "It’was in Manduel during a forum (of associations). Lots of activities were on display. My brother and I didn't really know what to do. We chose archery. Spot on!

Also read: Paris 2024 Olympic Games: calendar, date, location, history… Everything you need to know about archery

The young man, 17 years old, has been grilling from all stages. To the point of impressing Mr. Oh (6 Olympic gold medals between 2000 and 2012). Oh Seon-Tek is the South Korean coach of the France team. He arrived in 2021, the day after the rather disappointing Tokyo Games for the Blues (zero points).

Mr. Oh had seen it all

"As soon as he saw me (at 15 years old), he wanted at all costs for me to move up to the seniors. The first winter at Insep was very difficult. Some coaches thought it was too early. Not him!" Mr. Oh had seen everything before anyone else, mainly the extraordinary mentality of the member of the Arc Club of Nîmes.

“He saw someone who didn't hesitate on the firing line, who sent. I was rather fast, as he likes, like Asians in general.” South Koreans in particular.

“I've reached a milestone”

Double medalist at the Youth World Championships in July 2023 (team gold and individual bronze), fourth in a senior World Cup round in April 2024, European team champion the same year: nothing seems to be able to slow his progress. In Paris, he is simply aiming for a podium.

"In recent months, I have reached a milestone. There's not much missing, details the boy, quarter-finalist last year during the test event organized at the Invalides. This time, the stands will be a little bigger…"

There will also be a few more people. Usually, the Addis family leaves the little one to fend for himself. "My parents are not too intrusive, explains Baptiste. They understood where to place themselves in relation to me, in relation to my needs. They are there when needed, they support me but they are in the right place."

And if a medal comes to crown this early journey, the Gardois intends to let himself be carried away by the thing. I'm not the type to do something crazy if I win. Everything in its time.

Its program: today, individual qualifications at 2 p.m. and 15 p.m.; July 29 from 9:30 a.m., team competition; August 2 from 9:30 a.m., mixed team competition; on August 4 from 9:30 a.m., final phases of the individual (if qualified). I subscribe to read more