Taekwondo: At 50, legend Pascal Gentil is seeking a 19th title at the French championships in Montpellier

Pascal Gentil combattra pour le club de Monaco LF – LF

Double médaillé olympique en 2000 et 2004, la star du taekwondo français sera la principale attraction au FDI Stadium de Montpellier, ce samedi, lors des championnats de France.

The legend is back and all eyes are on him. Pascal Gentil (50 years old) left such a mark on the history of his sport in the early 2000s that his mere presence is an event.

This Saturday, the first French Olympic medalist in taekwondo history will seek a 19th French champion title at the FDI Stadium in Montpellier. Just this: “I won my last title in 2016. My daughter was born in 2017 and people tell her I was a champion but she doesn't know what that means. I want to show him by myself,” he explains a bit mischievously.

An expected duel against Montpellier's El Yazidi

To achieve his goals, Pascal Gentil will have to beat Montpellier, multiple French champion and defending champion, Omar El Yazidi (28 years old) in the +87kg category. The duel promises to be epic if these two meet in the final. 

Third in the Poitiers International Open and winner of an event in Belgium, Pascal Gentil trains twice a day. As always, he doesn't do things by halves. And it was the same at the time of his peak when he won three world championship titles and as many European champions.

The Martinican even entered the hearts and minds of the French at the beginning of the 2000s. His charisma and his enthusiasm marked the Olympic Games in Sydney then Athens as much as his frustration with an arbitration which turned around every time. times to his disadvantage: "I never say that I have won two bronze medals but rather that I am a double Olympic medalist. Do I have any regrets ? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. At that time, Pascal Gentil became a public figure: "I gave everything to publicize taekwondo, I was fully committed", he says.

Gentil will carry the Olympic flame

After his career, Pascal Gentil went into exile in China before returning to France. Recently, he even learned to his delight that he will be one of the lucky ones to carry the Olympic flame. "The Games in Paris are a fantastic opportunity for France to become a sporting nation rather than a nation of athletes but also to prove our ability to welcome millions of visitors.&quot ;

In the meantime, Pascal Gentil is today on the tatami in Montpellier to put on a show and explain to his daughter what it means to be a champion.

I subscribe to read more