To start the month of June the right way, I officially received my diploma from McGill University by the Desautels Faculty of Management in the middle of the campus right in Montreal. Inevitably there was a big American-style ceremony. All the students were in beautiful black graduation dresses (toque and hat) for a graduation ceremony in front of our relatives. For myself, in front of my mom and my cousin who came for a few days to be present at the ceremony. I was therefore proud to receive my diploma from the best University in Canada (QS world rankings and world top 30) with a double major in general management and organizational behavior + a concentration in management for sustainability. Who says graduation says ending. A few days later, it was time to leave and move from Montreal to return back to France. These last few days have been difficult and emotionally heavy, even if I had prepared for them when the day comes the emotions that take over. Saying goodbye to the family I made over there, and to the Montreal lifestyle in which I was fulfilled, and happy was not easy. Who would have thought that my most difficult lap to complete was not that of a 200 meter butterfly. It was the last lap of loose swimming during my last practice in the McGill pool under the eyes of my coach, mentor and friend Peter Carpenter. It's the first time that I didn't want to touch the wall and cross the finish line. I am so grateful to have had this extraordinary experience abroad among such lovely people. With big crocodile tears dripping my cheeks I flew back to Marseille on June 6.
Barely arrived in Marseille, the next day it's time to leave for Canet-en-Roussillon for two weeks with the French swimming team.
My first camp with the France team went very well. I was able to take advantage of my outgoing personality and my curiosity to constantly learn from the best French coaches and swimmers. In Canet, Julien Jacquier, the Marseille head coach took care of Marie Wattel, Mélanie henique and me. The preparation went very smoothly, written by Peter but coached by Julien (so as not to change training philosophy at the last moment and to continue on the right guideline). I was faster than ever, a little sick during the camp but the energy and motivation are there. Who says first time in the France team says integration. It was through dances, poems, karaoke and magic tricks that I was able to validate my integration.
After a ten-day camp at the Malibu village of Canet, it's time to get down to business and fly to Budapest.
Budapest, World Swimming Championships, Duna Arena. After two days of quiet training, the competition begins. And there is the surprise. First evening of finals, WHAT AN ATMOSPHERE. Impossible to prepare for something like this, you have to live it to understand it. An arena filled with thousands of crazy Hungarians with dozens of screens and spotlights that flashes the pool and the stands in colors. Each final gave me chills, I'm a spectator and I have more emotions than when I swam at the French Championships. It's crazy. What a better way to start the first evening of competition than French teammate Léon Marchand, who demolishes the competition field and gives us the best swimming demonstration since Phelps in the 400m medley. The pool is stunned. It's the start of a great week for the French team. After six days filled with semi-finals, finals and medals from the friends of the French team, it is FINALLY time for me to swim. I entered the 100m butterfly series where I swam a time of 52.78 for 23rd place in the world. Engaged in 52.4 with the 30th time, I improved my ranking and remained close to my best performance. But, that is not enough to make it to the semi-finals (top 16).
I had a good race, well executed, but the pressure and expectations got the better of my body to swim faster. My brain wanted to swim fast but my body was too tense. More relaxation would have allowed me to swim my best time. The evening before, the very morning, and in the call room just before the race, I felt that my body was subconsciously stressed. I found it difficult to relax despite meditations and breathing exercises. It's a first time for me in this context and even if I tried everything to be ready, there are things you can't prepare for.
I will remember a wonderful experience despite the fact that I was only able to swim once. Physically everything was perfect, I was stronger than ever, but the world championships have nothing to do with the French championships. The pressure is not at all the same and needs to be managed differently to get the best out of yourself at the right moment.
