Paris 2024 Olympics. Clarisse Agbégnénou after her bronze medal: “Sorry”, “too greedy”, “we'll win in 2028”

Clarisse Agbégnénou is “disappointed, angry, happy” after the bronze medal. MAXPPP – MATTHIEU BOTTE

The Frenchwoman, reigning Olympic champion, was disappointed to have failed in her quest for gold, this Tuesday, July 30, because of a "tactical choice". Bronze doesn't satisfy her either. But she "won't let go” and promises a rebound during the team event before the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 in which she feels ready to participate.

As I left after the fight, there were smiles and tears mixed together. What predominates now? ?

Everything. I am disappointed, angry, happy. There are too many emotions here. I say to myself, Clarisse, you still have a medal at home. At the same time, you were so far above that you missed the boat. It is not easy. I will take the time to savor it, anyway. The road was long, a pregnancy, coming back, breastfeeding. It is not easy. But when I think that I am so far above, like that, with all that, it is that in fact, I can reach the moon. I won a bronze medal.

But I can thank Ludovic (Delacotte, her coach), because I wasn't into it at all. And when I saw his dark look, which told me that I wasn't into it, plus the public who added to it afterwards… I said to myself, Clarisse, you can't give up, because afterwards, you'll be even more disappointed. And you can bite your fingers.

That'll teach me. Now she's an Olympic champion.

What did you miss in the semi-finals ?

I think a tactical choice, because I was above and in fact too greedy. I should have told myself that the golden score would do it too, because she would tire, I was good, ahead of the echido. And why do you want to score, it's useless, that will teach me. Now she is an Olympic champion (Slovene Andreja Leski, editor's note).

How do you explain the fact that you were not in the running for bronze ?

I was too disappointed. So disappointed to have lost in the semi-finals.

I'm not going to end up like this.

How do you see things going forward ?

I'm not going to end up like this. Especially since now I know the magic potion. We can come back with several children now. As I see that I still have strength, there will be nothing left but.

That means that you will aim for participation in Los Angeles in 2028 ?

With the physical shape I have, what I was able to show today, I have no brakes. And besides, I didn't win at home, so we'll go and win in the USA.

You're going to be able to savor this medal?

I'll take the time to savor it. I'll savor it with my daughter, my family, that's for sure, with my friends and everyone. Because the public we had there, come to Los Angeles please! They were incredible. And without them, I think that many French athletes would not have had all this. I can only thank them, those who were there and those who were in front of their TV because they also sent a lot of energy.

There is also the team event?

We are not going to give up. I will take the time tomorrow, to get out of all my emotions. And then, I will get back into it. Because we have to go get this beautiful medal at home.

Your coach said that you apologized after your last fight. Why??

Because he supported me so much to get this gold at home that I was disappointed not to bring it to him. There, I'm sorry Ludo. And I'm sorry for everyone because I should have won at home.