Marie-Florence Candassamy is dueling for gold

Marie-Florence Candassamy was among the 50 athletes who received support from Paris as they prepared for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Now, in 2024, she's ready to compete in the fencing events at the Paris Games, which kick off on July 27 at the Grand Palais!

We met the athlete in July 2022.

Marie-Florence Candassamy is at home in the vast fencing hall of the Paris University Club (PUC). "I started here and I'm still here", smiles the young woman as she dismounts from her electric scooter. No time to take a breather, her week is busy: she's just arrived from Insep, in the Bois de Vincennes, where she trains relentlessly with her fellow fencers from the French national team.

It was no coincidence that our meeting took place at the PUC fencing gym, nestled in the heart of the Cité Internationale park in the 14th arrondissement. This is where 31 year old Marie-Florence Candassamy found her love for fencing. "I was 7 years old and my parents wanted me to take up a sporting activity," she recalls, "so they decided for me, and it was a very good choice!

In the Candassamy family, there's nothing traditional about wielding a sword. She was the first to take up fencing: "I'm like an alien in the family!" In her first year, she took up foil, but it wasn't long before another weapon took over. "My fencing master realized it wasn't for me. They quickly switched me to epee, because I had the movements of a swordsman: extending my arm was one of my main reflexes."

Her stature (she measures 1.85 metres) and her agility make all the difference. "I took part in my first World Cup in Germany at the age of 11. Then, when I was 13 or 14, I won my first World Cup bronze medal, again in Germany". Her father often supports her at competitions. He is a reassuring presence for the young woman, without imposing any additional burden on her: "My father has always been very calm."

Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, China… She has toured the globe, taking part in tournaments and other competitions. But what memories does she have of her very first international tournaments? "Before I took part, I didn't even know there were European or world championships. All I could think about was having fun as a fencer, nothing more". One of her earliest memories ? "Having creamy chocolate in Italy!"

One victory followed another, and so did the trophies: in all, she has already won 15 French championship titles! Not to mention a host of European team and individual medals. Her most recent victory: a team gold medal with Les Bleues, last June, at the European Championships in Antalya (Turkey).

She reached the Holy Grail in 2016, getting to the Rio Olympics! Even if she didn't win a medal (she finished ninth in the individual event), the experience was unforgettable. "Qualifying for the Games was already exceptional. It was very impressive to meet all the athletes in the Olympic Village".

Paris 2024? There's still a long way to go until the Paris Olympics, and the champion is keeping a cool head: " I'm taking it one step at a time. After the European Championships, I'll be competing in the World Championships in Cairo in July. Paris 2024 is both near and far. I'm not going to start by doing a sprint and end up out of breath at the finish line!"

And the competition is fierce among fencers. "Qualifying for the Games is very complex. In fencing, the world is divided into three zones: America, Asia and Europe. In Europe, only 3 or 4 countries qualify for the Games".

In the meantime, the woman who was born and lives in Paris (in the 15th arrondissement) will continue to enjoy the capital… without shutting herself away in a bubble. "I like to have moments for myself outside sport," she confides. "Outings to the movies, restaurants… I need these little personal moments as inspiration" Her favorite spot? Rue Sainte-Anne (2nd), an Asian micro-district not far from the Opéra de Paris. She browses the stores as well as Vietnamese, Thai and especially Japanese restaurants, the street's specialty. Before leaving us, she shares her latest discovery: "It's called Kodawari Tsukiji, and the ramen are excellent!"

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