Freshly crowned as the champion of France with ONN, captain Elise Lefert talks about a sport that is little publicized in France: water polo. For her, it’s a passion and not a profession. She reflects on her title as French champion and mentions the (too) low importance of water polo in the country.
Nice-Premium: How did you come to water polo?
Elise Lefert: It’s a bit of a family story. My grandfather and father played it, while my mother was a high-level swimmer. Initially a swimmer, I was more attracted to team sports. So it was only natural that I came to practice this sport with my brother Clément, who then chose to focus on swimming (Clément Lefert is part of the French swimming team that will go to the Olympic Games, editor’s note).
NP: You practice a sport that is not very publicized in France. How do you cope with that?
EL: First of all, it’s important to remember that it’s a passion. It’s difficult being a professional in this sport in France. We all have to study or work alongside it, so it’s not always easy.
NP: Why is this sport so little recognized in our country?
EL: The main reason is that, at the national level, the French teams do not have results. That has a big impact. In other countries like Hungary or Italy, these sports are much more highlighted. When you arrive in Hungary, there’s a giant photo of the national team’s goalkeeper, whereas here, it’s soccer players (laughs).
NP: This is the 4th consecutive time you have been French champions, is there not a certain fatigue?
EL: You never get tired of winning. But it’s true that with Nancy, it’s kind of a two-team championship (for eight years, Nice and Nancy have systematically met in the French championship final, editor’s note), even though Bordeaux and Lille are not far behind. Sometimes there’s a lack of adrenaline, while if you play a sport, it’s to have a certain dose of excitement, of stress.
NP: What are your next goals with ONN?
EL: First, we must retain our national title. In the European Cup, it’s more challenging because the top two from each European championship end up in the Champions League. Facing the Hungarians, Greeks, or Italians is very difficult. In the LEN Cup (small European cup), we would have more of a place. I’m sure we could reach the quarter-finals.
NP: Can the French team develop?
EL: For that, there would need to be more professionalism and a staff change. I stopped playing in the selection because of that, but also to focus on my studies in physiotherapy. Because sports are great, but no matter the level, you have to think about what comes after.
