Of Reunion origin and trained at JCM Saint-Paul, Guillaume Chaîne wants to be a flag bearer of the island at the next Olympic Games which will be his first, at 34 years old.
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The Olympics are the adventure of a lifetime. When he rewinds the film of his, at 34, Guillaume Chaine sees himself where it all began, at the Judo Club Municipal de Saint-Paul. Born in France to a mother in Reunion, the licensed judoka in Sartrouville spent five years of his childhood in Saint-Gilles-les-Hauts. He says he is proud to represent the island in the French selection. If he will not defend his double silver medal in the team event at the next Worlds, from June 6 to 13 in Budapest, he will try to shine individually in the -73 kg category. Before the big meeting in Tokyo.
You started at JCM Saint-Paul, what memories do you have of it?
“My dad enrolled me and my older brother when I was four years old. At the same time, I played soccer. I have almost intact memories. I see the dojo, familiar faces, the coaches and a few comrades that I was on the mat. I was coached by Guy-Michel Quintin and Franck Payet who is no longer in this world. They managed to get me hooked.
Apparently, in your career as an athlete, these years have counted …
These are my roots, the beginning of everything. Despite the long journey that I have, if I have continued, it is because they have given me the taste and the desire to go further. Reunion Island is a land of champions, I have a lot of comrades who come from the island, whether it is Matthieu Dafreville, Nicolas Mussard, Emmanuelle Payet whom I have worked with in the French cadet and junior team, and Laëtita Payet.
You are going to play your first Olympics at 34, it’s not trivial!
I am in a relatively large category in France, with a still high level of competition. But I knew how to take my pain patiently.
“I knew how to take my pain patiently”
Your prize list is mainly filled in the team events. Is it a lack of not having won anything individually?
Yes, because a prize list is built on a major official championship. I miss these medals. It remains an individual sport, even if the team titles are close to my heart.
Suddenly, the Worlds then the Games… What ambitions?
We are still looking for gold. The idea is to give the best of ourselves and not regret anything.
How well are you?
The season is special with a lot of competitions and little preparation, so we are in a big block of preparation. It will happen quickly. The desire and the pleasure are there, even if I am a little blunted by the competitions of the previous months.
It didn’t go well for you at the Kazan Grand Slam at the beginning of the month …
I go out on penalties. If we look at all the French performances lately, we lose a lot for lack of tactical lucidity when we have the capacity to play big games. These are details to be worked out. I remain confident. I do not question everything for a poor performance. I have already beaten the best in the category, anything is possible.
And after the Olympics?
I will do a year and take stock, see if I want and if I am still competitive. I do not close any doors. There is a good chance that this will be my first and last Games, but you never know, the Olympiad is going to pass quickly as there are only three years left. “
Anthony Robinson
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