Shirine ‘Shishou’ BOUKLI is the nations sweetheart, an enormous persona within the French crew and naturally, Olympic bronze medallist from the latest Paris Olympic Video games. The -48kg athlete was again in motion beneath the Bercy lights on day one of many 2025 Paris Grand Slam, delivering a stellar efficiency, strolling away with the silver medal.
It was so good! I mentioned I wished to return again at house as a result of it’s particular and you’ve got the gang with you, the environment could be very totally different, they push you. I didn’t have an enormous goal right here, it was simply to return again in competitors and take the pleasure in competing once more with all my household right here. It was cool, a pleasant expertise, a troublesome day, actually actually troublesome [she laughs] nevertheless it pushed me quite a bit. It wasn’t the gold, nevertheless it’s not so unhealthy, I by no means had the silver earlier than so now I’ve the entire assortment!
That is Boukli’s large comeback after the Olympics and life has change into very thrilling off the tatami,
So it was totally different while you take the medal within the Olympic Video games, your life modifications a bit of bit, I participated in Paris Style Week for instance, and you’ve got lots of people with you. As a result of the Olympic Video games had been at house you have got this mild on you on a regular basis, however now we have now had an enormous mild on judo, on ladies in judo, so I’m glad to have been ready to do this. I’ve lived an enormous life throughout these months nevertheless it was very fascinating, I took a while for myself, discovered a brand new ardour in jiu jitsu, took time with my membership and competed with them at -52kg, it was very cool, there was no stress in any respect, it was simply to restart.
Coming down from the Olympic excessive isn’t a straightforward one, beginning contemporary in a brand new cycle and renewing the objectives and desires, however there isn’t a higher place to do it than at house in Paris surrounded by acquainted faces and a loving viewers.
I’m taking all of the feelings from that, however it’s good to return again right here. I simply love judo so after I observe, I would like it to be enjoyable, and that is what I’ve looked for throughout these months. It was so true, some others with expertise advised me, that after the Olympic Video games, after you’ve received that medal, it’s exhausting, put together your self. It’s such an enormous second, then it’s completed. You come again to actuality and it’s achieved, so I took time to go on vacation, to be with my household, and after I determined to return again on the mat for randori, we begin from scratch.
Earlier than the Video games, we spoke to Boukli after her gold medal win within the 2024 Paris Grand Slam and she or he was prepared and raring to go, however after all we requested the query, ‘are you feeling the stress of an Olympics at house?’, on the time she thought it could be an odd feeling, to organize at house, to not fly away and expertise the journey and preparation half, however ultimately, she made a robust resolution to guard herself.
I actually ready myself earlier than the Olympics, possibly one month beforehand I made a decision to not do any interviews as a result of the stress, it wasn’t there as a result of the Olympic Video games had been at house, it was repeating the identical factor. Simply easy questions like ‘how will you’re feeling?’ the reply is I don’t know, and this was annoying for me so I reduce it off. I targeting preparation prefer it was a Grand Slam, European or World Championships. This was one thing I actually wanted to handle.
It’s all the time argued that there isn’t a crowd just like the Bercy crowd, the French are educated and passionate and are behind their athletes each step of the way in which. It’s a consolation to the hosts and motivating to the worldwide athletes, so as we speak was an ideal ‘welcome again’, however how did it evaluate to her Olympic expertise?
The environment, right here on this enviornment it’s actually good, you have got lots of people however you have got house right here. Within the Olympic Video games, the gang had been on high of you, and that’s why the entire day I didn’t take a look at them. I used to be watching my ft, the mat, the lady, the coach, nevertheless it was so totally different and it was nonetheless a pleasant expertise and I’m so glad to have been there and be part of the technology that had an Olympic Video games at house.
Judoka
Shirine Boukli
Writer: Thea Cowen
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