” For the moment, if we follow the new rules, since I am absent from the European championship, I am not eligible for the Olympic Games either, but I obviously hope that the federation will come back to this. » The wish of Marine Johannes was “heard”.
Having summoned the press to the headquarters of the FFBB, the leaders of the women’s national team, namely Jean-Pierre Siutat, the president of the French Federation, Céline Dumerc, the GM, and Jean-Aimé Toupane, the coach, indicated that the native of Lisieux remains selectable for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as reported by the newspaper L’Équipe. No free pass will however be issued during the preparation, launched at the beginning of June next year, two to three weeks after the final of the Women’s Basketball League. ” If a player leaves for the WNBA before, she will not be part of the team. “Warns Jean-Pierre Siutat, however.
Her remarks directly echo the choice of the leader / back to join, a few weeks ago, her New York Liberty franchise, thus preventing her from being present at the start of the preparation for the last Women’s Euro.
As a result, the 28-year-old was purely and simply deprived of competition. A “penalty” that had touched her a lot.
“I want us to come running in the France team”
” We made mistakes on both sides, we could have had clearer communication. Things could have been handled better. The extent of this controversy shocked me, but we didn’t take anyone by surprise, these are choices and the girls joined this project. “, assures Céline Dumerc, general manager, whose team had to settle for a third place at the Euro. A bronze medal synonymous with failure for Jean-Aimé Toupane, yet confirmed as a coach, whose objective was clearly gold.
The French team now wants to turn the page on this controversy, and others (like the clear criticisms of Sandrine Gruda against Jean-Aimé Toupane…) and is now planning its Olympics with ambition.
“ We want the best team for the Olympics, but I want us to come running with the French team, it (the selection) is above the individual “says Céline Dumerc to conclude, while Jean-Pierre Siutat thinks that” there is still a gap with the USA. I dream of a medal but we will see according to the twelve players and the table after the draw. »
