Less than 10 days before the start of the World Swimming Championships in Kazan (Russia, August 2-9), the young swimmer from Olympic Nice Natation, Marie Wattel (17 years old) spoke to Nice Premium. After an outstanding year in 2015, she now hopes to shine at the World Championships after having passed her baccalaureate with honors.
Nice Premium: Consistently improving times, a ticket to the World Championships, the baccalaureate with honors. How would you describe this year, 2015?
Marie Wattel: It’s been a tough year because there has been a lot to manage. The most important thing is Kazan; only afterward will I be able to judge if my year was good or not. For now, everything has gone quite well, and I hope it continues like this.
N.P.: Was there a particular turning point this year?
M.W.: From the start of the season, I looked at the qualifying times for the World Championships and thought they were tough and that I really had to work to achieve them. I started taking training more seriously. With the passing of Camille (Muffat, on March 7), we feel less inclined to complain or do silly things.
N.P.: This will be your third major competition after the World Championships in Barcelona in 2013 and the European Championships in 2014. What have you learned from these significant events?
M.W.: I will try to approach the competition better. At such a high level, one can be unsettled next to great champions. I will attempt to enter the competition as I’m used to doing in meets and maybe manage my stress better. I have gained experience, which is always a plus.
“For the past month, I have worked well to make up for my delay”
N.P.: After the European Championships in Berlin last summer, your coach Fabrice Pellerin spoke highly of you, particularly about your progress and maturation. It’s a bit like the summary of this season…
M.W.: There is a little more work done with Fabrice (Pellerin), especially in muscle training. The difference is there because I went from one to two weekly sessions. I was slightly behind in this area, but I have worked on it, and it helped me a lot in the water. I don’t know if it’s luck, but for now, I continue to improve, even if they say it might stop one day.
N.P.: At the beginning of June, you took the scientific baccalaureate exam. Was the lack of training (only one session per day) well managed?
M.W.: We’ll see that in Kazan… Before the French Open in Vichy (early July), I had missed quite a few sessions, and I was afraid I wasn’t in the right state. I didn’t achieve great times, but it was far from catastrophic. Fabrice reassured me by saying there was still a month to regain the right sensations. I hope it won’t be detrimental. For the past month, I’ve worked hard to make up for the delay.
N.P.: The performances in Vichy were good, with a tough competition. Is that reassuring?
M.W.: I’m not sure about reassuring; I like it when there is progress throughout the year, and it was a bit less than the other meetings. I’m not going to say “Kazan is over” because of the Bac and less training. I am reassured that even being “soft” for a month, it’s not too visible.
“I like being among the best”
N.P.: France doesn’t have many great butterfly swimmers. Is that an advantage or a disadvantage?
M.W.: A bit of both. On one hand, I like being among the best, it gives me confidence, and it helps me in races. On the other, there is Béryl (Gastaldello, qualified for Kazan in the 100m butterfly) who is catching up, which creates competition and boosts me. There are only two of us in the 100m, but competitive meets allow us to face the best. I enjoy feeling among the best, even if there is a lack of challenge. When swimmers start challenging you, it pushes you to be better. It’s a plus. With Béryl, we will push each other to the top.
N.P.: The championship implies a collective adventure with the relays. It will be with a French team that is constantly improving…
M.W.: We have a strong team. Among the girls, we form a group that is starting to perform well. When I see the performances, we are all progressing. We are in a good dynamic, and it will continue. I hope it will be solid for the future and bring back medals in the years to come.
N.P.: What will be your goals in Kazan?
M.W.: Missing the semifinals in the 100m butterfly would be a real disappointment. I would like to confirm my morning times if I make it to the semifinal. Sometimes I swim fast in the morning, but in the evening, I get stressed by the pressure. Not being too overwhelmed by the pressure will be a challenge.
N.P.: Can we consider that these World Championships will serve for the big 2016 goal: the Olympic Games?
M.W.: This year, I had the baccalaureate, so many things to do and think about. In 2016, it’s clear, I will be 100% focused on swimming and the Olympic Games.
Photo credit: Fédération Française de Natation
