Paris 2024 Olympics: “I'm the crazy guy on this team”, Nîmes' Baptiste Addis wins silver medal in archery

Baptiste Addis, sous les yeux des 8 000 spectateurs des Invalides. MAXPPP – MARTIN DIVISEK

À 17 ans, l’enfant de Manduel et de l’Arc Club de Nîmes a décroché sa première médaille olympique, lundi, aux Invalides.

The region's athletes are ready for Paris 2024. After Shirine Boukli (bronze, judo) on Friday, and Victor Koretzski (silver, mountain biking) on ​​Monday early in the afternoon, Baptiste Addis, 17, and Jean-Charles Valladont, 35, both from the Arc Club de Nîmes, brought a new medal to the French team, silver in the archery team event, a first for the discipline among men.

With Clermont's Thomas Chirault, 26, they just lost in the final against South Korea, the overwhelming favorite, with Turkey taking third place. If Valladont and Chirault contributed to this success, it was the youngest who carried the team, first against Italy (6-2 in the quarter-finals), then against Turkey in a semi-final won by a hair's breadth.

Bandana strapped on his forehead, like Rambo, Baptiste Addis hit the bullseye one after the other (10). In front of the journalists, he also aimed right.

Baptiste, a medal at only 17 years old. What do you feel ?

It's incredible. It's the result of preparation this winter. We worked hard. And there you have it, in the end, it's paying off. I'm really happy to be doing it now (at this age). And especially with this team. At this moment, it's a lot of pride, a lot of happiness. Personally, I'm happy with this day. I was told to go into the arena to have fun. And that's really what I did. On top of that, I shot pretty well. This team allowed me to be confident. At 17 years old without having experienced the Games, unlike my teammates.

You're talking about an arena. There were 8,000 spectators. How did you feel??

It was incredible. On the shooting range, there was good stress. It didn't overwhelm me. My first arrow ends up in the 10. I turn around. I scream. I hear everyone. I see my teammates. These are just memories that will remain forever etched in our memory.

What can be your ambition now in the individual event that begins Tuesday ?

It's the same objective as for the team event. It's to get into the arena, have fun and give it your all.

Will we see you tonight (Monday) at Club France ?

Yes, anyway ! Anyway !

Have you thought about the journey you've taken by getting on the podium ?

My whole family was there. I also saw several members of my club. It's just crazy. I would like to thank the Arc Club de Nîmes for introducing me to archery, for giving me this passion and the right foundations.

Do you feel like things are going very quickly for you?? You are only 17 years old.

I don't ask myself too many questions. Is things going quickly or not? It's going as it should be.

You are the youngest in this team (he cuts in)…

Everyone has found their place. There are three very different characters. Jean-Charles has a lot of experience. He brings his calm. I am the crazy one of the team, always going all out to relieve stress. For me, all this is just a game. Thomas balances the two.

You're going to end up scaring the South Koreans a lot.

We're training for it anyway. Individually, all three of us are in the Top 20. We're starting to show what we're worth. We want to beat everyone, not just the Koreans.