“We rarely get used to seeing that…” Leaving the diving pit of the Olympic aquatic center, Jules Bouyer wears a broad smile. Haut-Savoyard and his partner Alexis Jandard have just taken 2nd place in the International Open in 3m synchro behind Great Britain, dress rehearsal in the Dyonisian venue less than three months from Paris Olympics.
And even if the stands were far from full, the encouragement from the blue-white-red public delighted the French duo. “It was so loud at first that I said to myself: I’m going to cry, it’s not possible, continues Bouyer. I was really moved to see it all come to fruition, the Olympics, the swimming pool… I’m really super proud. »
“A great exercise for this summer”
The French pair took advantage of the atmosphere to get their musical bearings before the big summer hubbub. “The sound is what impacts us the most,” continues the man who will also compete in the 3m solo in August. Going from huge screams to complete silence and hearing Alexis count to start. This transition is a bit abrupt. Normally, there are just our teammates and there are twenty of them when we are abroad. There it’s really strong and it adds pressure. It’s a great exercise for this summer. »
Jandard, too, enjoyed the exercise. “It’s really galvanizing,” slips the reluctant hero of the discipline, who put his sport in the spotlight thanks to his fall during the inauguration. Usually, the public is not there for us. Here, we are the headliners. »
Teasing, the Blues improvised a commemorative plaque with adhesive tape on the board where Jandard finished the four irons in the air under the eyes of President Macron. We can read: “Alexis Jandard, 04.04.2024. But we love you. THANKS. » This time, everything went (almost) well, despite two errors from the Lyonnais on the fourth and then on the fifth jump (out of six).
“It’s certain that there are ways to do much better,” he breathes. I work a bit like that. When I feel in difficulty, I manage to bounce back. And it’s very important to feel supported by your teammate. I made small careless mistakes and it happened very quickly. All the diving can suffer behind. From the start, you have to be focused on the right actions, the right areas of work. »
“It’s possible to make this medal, no matter the color”
The two men still have a few weeks and the European Championships in mid-June in Serbia, to refine their jumps, in particular a front quadruple which they can further improve. “That’s going to be the key point,” predicts Jandard. It’s quite new for us and this was the second competition where we did it. The goal is going to be to have a series that competes with the foreigners because they all have that dive. »
In the game of seven differences between May and August, there were three big ones. The Spaniards, Chinese and Mexicans were indeed conspicuous by their absence even though they should shine in the spotlight during the Games. “If we can erase these little details, it’s possible to make this medal, no matter the color,” says Bouyer. But the 3m synchro is a direct final between eight countries and anything can happen. »
Since their historic third place at the Fukuoka Worlds in 2023, the French can no longer hide. “We are no longer too much of an outsider because people in diving are starting to know about it,” says Jandard. But we’re really looking forward to working to get there. »
