“Olympic gold in Tokyo? I hope it will be for me!”

Almost two weeks after having gone to get the silver medal at the world of struggle championships, the Frenchman Koumba Larroque returns for Francetv Sport on her meteoric ascent. She also talks about her upcoming operation – which puts an end to her 2018 season – her place in the French team as well as her future objectives, with the high point of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.

It has been more than ten days since the Worlds in Hungary ended. How do you feel, you were able to recover a little of your emotions?

“Yes, I went on vacation to Dubai after the world championships. I returned a few days ago because I have to see the surgeons. I am injured in the knee and will probably have to have a meniscus. I also have a piece of knee who came off and who wanders a little so it will be necessary to remove it. Since everyone knows that I would like to make it. not waste too much time. “

Is it a consequence of the World World Final?

“Yes, that's it.”

Precisely, you had seen you extremely disappointed after the fight against Alla Cherkasova (the Ukrainian crowned world champion, editor's note)especially after his crusader of ankles which turns the meeting rock. Is this cold today, this frustration has passed and what lessons would you remember from this defeat?

“The frustration has passed a bit because it's been a little time anyway. After that is the best medal I made but it is also the one that disappoints me the most because I know that I had the capacity to win. Now I still have a year to wait before the Worlds and it's long …”

There is still something crazy when you look at your journey, it is this meteoric ascent. What can you have in relation to all this? (European and world champion in cadets, in junior, in less than 23, vice-champion of Europe and the world in seniors, editor's note)

“Yes, it is true that from the outside I am told a lot and even in the struggle. After it is true that since I have managed to assert myself early in the seniors, I do not want to” waste my time “. I know that I have the capacities so I do not brake, I do not put myself a barrier compared to the age or anything. Olympic champion. “

Do you see yourself definitely installing in seniors?

“Yes. This year I played my last competition with the juniors. After I will continue with those under 23. There I was supposed to go to the U23 Worlds but as I am injured I cannot. But otherwise yes I will continue.”

Do you consider yourself today the leader of the French wrestling team?

“There is still Mélonin (Noumonvi) Who is the captain of the team with his age and his results, it is he who is world champion (in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2014 Worlds in under 85 kg, editor's note) And not me! (Laughs) After that is true that at the moment the French team has a lot on me and I know that I have an important role because I am the one that reports the most medals. So if I can motivate everyone a bit it's with pleasure, but after that is not my role of being a leader. “

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You are rather discreet on social networks. Does that mean that you don't necessarily like to put yourself too much forward, to take the light too much? Or that you don't necessarily like to maintain this?

“It's a bit of both! (Laughs) for example TwitterI'm not sure how to manage. In fact I do not really have interest even if I know it's important. I prefer more InstagramI manage to “chill” a little more. After there are a lot of athletes who like to do that but I like to have my privacy a little. “

Your 2018 season is therefore over. What will be your goals next year? Bring back the titles of European and world champion and continue to apprehend the Olympic category (-68kg)?

“Yes, I went down to the Olympic category (-68kg) for the world championships this year. The most important thing especially it will be the world championships because they will be qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games. The first six at the Worlds are qualified for Tokyo, after there are qualification tournaments for the last places.”

France has no longer had an Olympic medal in female wrestling from those of Anna Gomis and Lise Legrand during the introduction of the discipline in Athens in 2004. Does that add some pressure for 2020?

“No, it does not necessarily put me in pressure because the fight has evolved a lot. It was the beginnings of the Olympic struggle. I think on the contrary it is good to have a” succession “and as for the moment there has not been a Olympic gold medal in the female, I hope it will be me!”

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