“We had goosebumps”, “Standing on this podium with all our families there…”: basketball player Romane Berniès talks about her Paris Olympic Games

La meneuse de jeu du BLMA est revenue avec une belle médaille d'argent. MAXPPP – Ludovic Maillard

She competed in her first Olympic Games and brought home a silver medal, basketball player Romane Berniès, captain of the BLMA, looks back on her emotions and memories of the Olympic fortnight.

How did you experience the announcement of the list of 12, before the Olympic Games ?

I felt good but I didn't feel sure I would be taken. That has never been my mentality and it will never be in the French team. Even if I felt good, I felt that I could have a role in this team and be able to help the team quite simply. But it's true that there were so many good players next to me, there were other parameters that came into play. But in any case, from the beginning, it's true that I still felt comfortable.

Afterwards, when the list came out, I was really happy but it was complicated because it's always difficult these last announcements with the few girls who aren't selected. I have a hard time rejoicing knowing what they're going through too. Since I've already been through these moments too, I know how difficult it is. I really had a hard time at the time, even two or three days later, rejoicing and I couldn't really take it in either. Afterwards, I think I really became fully aware when we arrived in Lille and started to get into the swing of things.

Also read: PODCAST. Paris 2024 Olympics: meeting Romane Berniès for a new episode of Graines de champions

The goal was already the medal, before the start of the competition?

Yes, it was a strong objective. We had a lot of meetings beforehand, whether between us or with a mental trainer-coach who was following us. We had a lot of meetings and the objectives were expressed directly. Afterwards, we also kept them to ourselves. We didn't necessarily talk about it to the press. But between us, we really knew where we wanted to go.

We wanted to meet the United States in the final and we wanted to be Olympic champions. We said it to each other and we verbalized it. So yes, we started this tournament with great ambitions. In fact, every match was a final for us. That's what we told ourselves before each match. That is to say, there were six games to play and each time it was a final.

Always full of energy, even on the bench. MAXPPP – Ludovic Maillard

How did these Olympic Games go in Lille, you had a dedicated Olympic village ?

Yes, there was an Olympic village just for Lille. It didn't look much like the real Olympic village. It was more like what we usually do, European championships, world championships. We were really just playing basketball together. But it was still really nice.

Honestly, we were in great conditions. We were in individual rooms. We had our space. So, it was much calmer. I think it's also good that we started there. We were a bit in our cocoon. We were quiet. We didn't have the fervor of the Games, more or less, I want to say. So, we really started serenely. We were really in our bubble and it was pretty cool.

In terms of atmosphere, I imagine you haven't played in front of 27,000 people very often in your career…

It was incredible. Incredible! I think I might never play in an atmosphere like that again. It was really “mad”. We were lucky enough to be able to go the day before the first matches, a United States-Serbia. And it was good to get some bearings when we got back.

Already there, we had quite a few people when we arrived in the room, just to sit down, who started applauding us. So, we got a bit of the scale of the thing. And then, the next day, when we entered the room, it was just incredible. I think the first time we went down the steps before warming up, we all looked at each other. We had goosebumps. It was really “crazy”. An atmosphere like we have rarely experienced, that's for sure.

With Samantha Whitcomb, her former teammate at BLMA… EPA – ALEX PLAVEVSKI

After the group stage in Lille, it was time to return to Paris for the final phase matches. It didn't change your habits too much ?

In Lille, we were really cocooned. It was good. Afterwards, we were also excited to arrive in Paris to fully appreciate what the Games were. Especially being in the Olympic Village. There, we really felt… We're at the Olympic Games. On the other hand, it was quite a change for us, because there, we go from a really cool, relaxed atmosphere. There are not many people, to fervor.

And really, it was a bit of chaos, it was a beautiful chaos, because I was happy to discover that, but it's true that it still shook us up a bit. Everything is bigger, in fact. You're always running to the right, to the left. It's completely different. So, it's true that it was still a big change for us, but we knew once again why we were there and we quickly refocused on ourselves and on what we had to do to best prepare for the quarter-final against Germany.

The quarter-final went well and in the semi-final, you met Belgium, who beat you at the same stage at Eurobasket last year, with a little feeling of revenge?

Yes and no, because it's true that each campaign has its own story. And for us, last summer, the team wasn't the same at all. For most of the girls who weren't there either, they hadn't experienced what we experienced the summer before, but we just wanted to win to get a medal quite simply and then to get closer to our goal. So, big game. In addition, against a Belgian team, we know how well they have played together for years and how tenacious they are.

So there you go, we knew it was going to be difficult, but once again, we just wanted to achieve the goal we had set for ourselves.

A moving joy in the arms of his loved ones. MAXPPP – LP/Olivier Arandel

We saw you all communing with your loved ones at the end of the semi-final, we had the impression that the objective had been achieved with this qualification for the final…

Yes, I think it was more of a relief given how the match went. The match was really intense and tight, with a lot of suspense until the end. So of course, it was the nerves, a little bit, that spoke afterwards and a little relief also to say that we have a medal, of course, even if we still wanted gold at that time, but relief to say that we are in the final and that we are not going to play for this third place, but we are where we want to be.

So, there you go, it's true that we enjoyed this moment with our loved ones. We are so lucky to have been able to experience this moment with our loved ones in the stands. That is really special. So, we enjoyed it a bit in the locker room afterwards. And then, we very, very quickly remobilized because we also knew what we were getting. We didn't want to just be a figurehead, in the end, against the United States.

In the final, against a Team USA who were the ultra-favorites, you just died by a small point (67-66). What is left of all that, pride or regrets??

No, it's pride. I couldn't use the word “regret” because even if we lost, there are no regrets to have. We played the game we had to play. The United States remains a very, very great nation, obviously the best nation in decades. So, there are no regrets to have about that game. Of course there was a lot of sadness after the match because it was hard to take, because we were just there.

We come very close to achieving an incredible feat. But it's true that afterwards, it's a lot of pride because as soon as we leave there, we see all the people, the happy people, the proud people, the people who congratulate us, the people who tell us that we made them dream. I think that's priceless too.

So, now, it's a lot of pride, recognition also from all these people and to have been able to experience this final, quite simply. They are super proud of us because we made them doubt, much more than doubt, I think, as they have rarely been for a long time. And we knew we could do that and we managed to do it. So, it's pretty cool.

The sadness on the faces of the Blues after the buzzer. MAXPPP – Jean-Marc LOOS

After the disappointment of this narrow defeat, what do you feel with the silver medal around your neck, on the podium??

To be honest with you, even at that time, it was a little difficult. Even the moment of the podium, just before going home, we talked a lot. But we were still a little down, it was still difficult. The podium was a mix of emotions. Still too fresh, but at the same time, a lot of pride.

Getting on that podium with all our families there, watching us and simply proud. But I can't tell you 100% that we were happy on that podium. It was still a bit bitter. Quickly after, we still realized what it was. And then, we also tell ourselves, maybe never in our lives, it will happen that we get back on an Olympic podium. So, we have to enjoy this moment…

What is the program for the medalists ? You were able to enjoy Club France and the Parc des Champions ?

Unfortunately, we were the very last competition. So, we went to the closing ceremony, then to Club France. But at Club France, we couldn't be celebrated like the others.

We didn't do the Parc des Champions at Trocadéro unfortunately. It's little things like that… it's a bit of a shame because we would have liked to be able to experience it. I think it was incredible.

Afterwards, we met up with our loved ones at Club France on the evening of the final. And then, the next day, we had media and partner requests. In the evening, we met up at INSEP with the families and the two teams. And it was cool.

A smile with the medal around your neck. MAXPPP – LP/Fred Dugit

We saw you get a lot of playing time during the group stage, where you were able to show yourself to your advantage. However, during the decisive matches, your role was not as important…

Frankly, I think that sums up our team in general a bit. That is to say, it was the opposite for other players who did not play much first, who were decisive in the knockout matches.

And I have no frustration about that. For a long time, the coach had explained to us that he, really, saw the team as 12 and that everyone would be important at some point. My time, I want to say, was more in the group stages, where I had a little more playing time, where I was perhaps able to be decisive defensively. And all that matters is that things are progressing well. We had a great run. I'm just happy to have been able to help the team at some point. And then, as the coach said, it's choices, moments in matches. And it's working, you know. I really don't worry about it. All that matters is that we have the medal around our neck. The rest is really not important.

Read also:Romane Berniès at the Paris 2024 Olympics: five things to know about the basketball player from Montpellier, competing this Monday with the French team

The opening ceremony was praised around the world for its beauty, how did it go for you, on the boat ?

Honestly, even though we were soaked… how could we not be happy despite everything. I think that made it even more special. Honestly, we had a blast. It was just incredible. I don't even really know how to describe it, but it was crazy to be able to be there.

That's also where we were in Lille. So, we came just for the ceremony… to see all the athletes and everything, to leave the Olympic village with everyone. There, we really realized that we were coming to the Olympic Games. It's something that won't happen often in our lives. We have to enjoy it. So, we were super happy to be there and we had a great time on the boats. It was really, really crazy.

In the Olympic Village, was there an athlete with whom you said to yourself "I have to take a picture with" ?

No, there aren't any. First of all, we arrived in the middle of the Games, in Paris, so there were quite a few athletes who weren't there anymore. Afterwards, of course we saw some great athletes anyway. I didn't take pictures with anyone. I don't know, it was weird. We were really into our thing, actually. We were so focused on our own competition… But we were really in commando mode, I feel like that.

So, I still took a little photo with Antoine Dupont at the closing ceremony because it was more for the wink, for my family and because we come from rugby. So there you go, I went to ask him for a little photo, I sent all that to all my friends, they were happy.

Read also: VIDEO. Paris 2024 Olympics: “We tested it for you” one on one with Romane Berniès, leader of the BLMA and the Bleues

Over the fortnight, you were able to go and see other disciplines ?

We only saw USA-Serbia, the first match in Lille. And we went to see the boys who were playing their semi against Germany. We were really so focused on our tournament… when we had time off, we really rested, we took care of ourselves, we were among ourselves.

Is your personal goal to be in Los Angeles in 4 years, or is it too early to talk about it ?

So really, I don't know at all. Of course it makes you want to, but then, there are so many parameters that come into play. So I'm not even planning ahead.

We'll really see day by day. As I was also able to do for Paris, if someone had told me four years ago that I would be in Paris, I don't even know if I could have believed it. With everything I had experienced in the French team. So there you go, I'm not planning ahead. And once again, there are a lot, a lot of steps before that. So we'll see when it happens.

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