The strong duo of French throwers, Mathilde Andraud and Frédéric Dagée, launched their crowdfunding campaign on May 17. The French javelin record holder and the French shot put vice-champion aim to raise their budget to participate in their first Olympics, in Rio. They are relying on the public’s generosity to achieve this.
At 23 and 27 years old, Frédéric and Mathilde have a dream. They want to combine their love story with their sporting ambitions. They are aiming for a first participation in the Olympic Games, this summer in Rio.
To achieve this, the two throwers decided to appeal for donations to finance their preparation for the Olympics, on the condition that they do it together. Fourteen days after its launch, the crowdfunding campaign is already successful as they have reached 127% of their goal.
In the meantime, the two athletes are fully dedicated to training in their respective disciplines to reach the required level of performance. One must achieve a minimum of 20.50 meters in shot put and 62.50 meters in javelin to qualify for the Olympics. On May 21 in Halle, Germany, Mathilde achieved 63.54 meters and broke the French record. With this performance, she qualified for Rio. Frédéric, on his side, is still seeking a qualifying performance. He has until July 11 to achieve it.
Still a student, the 23-year-old thrower is struggling financially despite the support from his club Nice Côte d’Azur Athletics and the national federation, among others. This is also the case for Mathilde, whose profession as a physiotherapist is incompatible with high-level athletics.
The couple has already collected 3808 euros. This money will be used for their Olympic preparation, travel expenses for competitions, and uncovered medical costs. “It will help us to put all the chances on our side to reach our goal,” explains Mathilde. The two throwers have also created an association, “Thrower Lover Olympic Goal” to promote their project.
Even though they have exceeded the initial sum of 3000 euros, the couple has until June 30 to receive donations in exchange for rewards chosen by contributors, such as an autographed photo or a training session with Frédéric and Mathilde. The additional money will help fund the upcoming season.
To support Mathilde Andraud and Frédéric Dagée’s Olympic project, visit https://riopower.me/fr/tl20
