French title winners attend INSEP's 80th anniversary: Teddy Riner, Laura Flessel, Clarisse Agbégnénou among attendees
The National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance (INSEP) hosted a gathering of champions on Friday, marking the 80th anniversary of the esteemed institution. The event, held around 5 PM, saw the return of some of France's most illustrious athletes, including Teddy Riner, Clarisse Agbegnenou, and Laura Flessel.
Teddy Riner, the greatest judoka in history, shared his memories of arriving at INSEP more than twenty years ago as a young adult. He looked up to older champions like Ladji Doucouré, Pascal Gentil, and Laura Flessel, who he now considers as family. Flessel, an Olympic champion of fencing in Atlanta in 1996 and former Minister of Sports (2017-2018), echoed Riner's sentiments, highlighting that INSEP is a place where they not only learn about sport but also about life.
Brahim Asloum, a 2000 Sydney Olympics champion (light flyweight), reminisced about his difficult beginnings at INSEP, crying almost every day for the first three months. He shared a personal anecdote about having secret feelings for synchronized swimmer Virginie Dedieu. Asloum's story was a testament to the close-knit community that INSEP fosters.
Clarisse Agbegnenou, a six-time world champion of judo (-63 kg), also felt the INSEP as a family. She advised younger athletes to persevere, stating that the first year is tough but all years are challenging. Agbegnenou emphasized that they are never alone at INSEP, offering support for times of need.
Florian Rousseau, a triple Olympic champion in track cycling (1996 and 2000), reminisced about the 50th anniversary of INSEP and the importance of history in shaping the future. He was joined by Fabien Canu, a former double world champion judoka, who now serves as the patron of INSEP.
The current president of the administrative council of INSEP is Jean-François Martins. He expressed his immense emotion and pride at the gathering to celebrate 80 years of excellence in French sport. The event also celebrated the success of the first Sports Festival on September 14 throughout France, particularly on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, which was renamed Boulevards des Sports.
Marie Barsacq, Minister of Sports of a resigned government, highlighted the festival as a strong message to the country, emphasizing the importance of sport for the future. Jean-François Lamour, a former Minister of Sports and double Olympic champion of sabre, undertook a significant renovation project at INSEP from 2007 to 2013.
Boris Diaw, the former basketball player and current president of INSEP's administrative council, reminisced about evenings they organized themselves and his role as a DJ. Teddy Riner, in turn, mentioned his use of an MP3 player during his time at INSEP.
The gathering was a heartwarming reminder of the close-knit community that INSEP fosters, nurturing some of France's most talented athletes while providing them with a supportive family environment. As the institution looks towards the future, it can be confident that it will continue to produce world-class athletes who will carry on the legacy of excellence that INSEP has built over the past 80 years.
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