27 years later, and for the fourth time in history, the French table tennis team is European team champion. Authors of a perfect week in Zadar in Croatia, the Blues of the Lebrun brothers and Simon Gauzy must quickly savor this beautiful gold medal because they are expected in a week in Montpellier for the WTT Champions.
After the quick final against Romania, a 3-0 victory, the entire French team was smiling. Félix Lebrun, on the podium, is the first to hold the big European champions' cup at arm's length. “It's nice, it's incredible. We've had a crazy week. We took advantage of every moment we had together and to end up with the title, it's exceptional”, relishes the 5th player in the world, the only one on the team not to have lost a single match during this week of competition. “We’re a little excited, we’re going to enjoy this evening (Sunday) until the plane tomorrow (Monday),” adds Félix. The Blues will take off in the afternoon this Monday from Split, before joining Montpellier for the Lebrun.
But the Blues know it, you have to take the time to savor such an accomplishment. Fourth European team champion title in the history of French table tennis. “It is certainly a great pride to see that we are marking our names in the history of French ping. We continue to do so and we hope that we will be able to remember our team as a great French team. Even if I think that is already the case. We will try to continue all together. Each year, it gets stronger. We all manage to pull each other up. If it continues on this path, it's a good sign”, confides Alexis Lebrun.
“Sit back and enjoy”, before returning to the competition
After celebrating this title together in Zadar in Croatia, we will quickly have to get back to training, even to competition on Wednesday for Simon Gauzy. “I have a match at Hennebont (his club in Pro A). It's not going to be easy but it's the job I've been doing for a long time. These aren't the most fun matches. It's also the start of my adventure with this club so I want to perform well at least to be at the top mentally to be able to help the team”, explains Simon, 30 years old. On the Lebrun side, direction Montpellier with a little rest first. “We still have a week without anything, in our sport, it’s huge. We’re going to take the next 2-3 days to relax and enjoy it,” explains Nathanaël Molin, the coach. “Until Wednesday, we know that there will be requests, there will be the desire to celebrate with the family, with our friends. We are going to take this time and switch back from Thursday,” adds Félix, 19 years old.
Because the players have their sights set on the WTT Champions organized in Montpellier (October 28-November 2), in a week, where Félix Lebrun is the title holder. “Obviously, if it had been in another country, perhaps we would ask ourselves the question, is it worth it? But there, clearly, we all want to be there,” says Felix. To prepare as well as possible and achieve the title of European champion in this tournament in the best way, a course is organized in Sète. “We're going to leave for four days to isolate ourselves a little bit with Alexis. But there will also be 2-3 players with us to train. It's really to refocus and switch back to Montpellier,” explains Félix, 5th in the world. But he is aware of it, having gone from a dream week with a gold medal around his neck, to the international season with a new tournament on the WTT circuit, it is difficult to remobilize. “I think it's not easy, especially when things are going very well. It's a little harder but I hope the public in Montpellier will push us to give the best of ourselves.” Last year, this tournament was a real success for its first edition. The public responded. This year, in addition to the expected number of spectators, the field is high. All the best players will be there, even the Chinese. Enough to give additional motivation.
