In London, the swimmer Yannick Agnel made a lasting impression. Olympic champion in the 200m freestyle, the same title in the 4*100m relay, and silver medalist in the 4*200m relay, the Nice native achieved the greatest performance of his career. During a parade on August 10th, the local fans paid tribute to him.
What do you think of this welcome from the people of Nice?
We were surprised, we didn’t expect so many people. It was gigantic. We are happy to be able to share our success with the locals; it was a way to thank them for their support!
How does it feel to be here, at home?
It feels great! I am not disappointed, and I can’t wait to enjoy time with my family and my free time. I am happy to be here tonight; it was important to make a mark. We wanted everyone to share in our joy. I am simply happy! For the past few days, I’ve been living a dream.
How did it feel watching your races again?
I was simply happy. It’s strange to be in the position of a spectator. I don’t know if you’ve ever watched old camcorder videos of yourself and you think, “Oh, I have a weird voice, and I’m not looking great.” That’s exactly how it feels when I see myself again.
What is your best memory from these Olympics?
I can’t rank my memories like that. Until a few hours ago, I was fully living in the moment. The Olympic Games, in themselves, are already a wonderful memory.
What do you think of the Olympic pool under construction?
It’s great, it will allow us to work in good conditions. I think it will be conducive to performance.
And according to you, what is the opinion of the people of Nice?
I don’t know. For me, it really touches me in a special way. Nice is my home, so to speak. I’ve been here since I was 14, and I feel completely adopted.
