Former athletes share their experiences

They proudly wear the colours of Mauritius when they compete in the Summer Olympics. Although the island has only one medal to date, won by Bruno Julie in 2008, the people who represent the country always show fighting spirit. Obtaining this precious key to participate in the Olympics requires countless sacrifices and great determination. Our interlocutors would not say the opposite.

Mauritius has participated in 11 OGs over the years, including this year. This time, 13 athletes will try to get as close to the podium as possible, hoping to repeat the feat of boxer Bruno Jolie in Beijing in 2008. While their performances will begin on July 26, let’s give the floor to the veterans who have already tasted this intoxication. As former Badista Karen Foo Kune-Bacha explains, obtaining this precious sesame seed is not obtained by waving a magic wand. She said that she would not have been able to compete without sacrifice. “The hard work, relentless training, sweat, time and years that went into qualifying was no easy feat.”

She added that she often has moments of frustration and low morale, but despite this, she is able to overcome them. “Successfully qualifying is the result of all that hard work.” Qualifying for the Olympics is the ultimate goal for any high-level athlete. Former triathlete Fabienne Saint-Louis knows this all too well. “The feeling of standing on the starting line is so special. It’s totally different from other events, even if you race with the same girls all year long!” The venues and cities hosting the Olympics are also filled with a pervasive atmosphere. “My fondest memories remain the opening ceremonies of the two Olympic Games I participated in (2012 and 2016). Unforgettable moments filled with meaning, pride and intense happiness.”

The former Mauritius triathlon number one said the welcoming public atmosphere brought a special feeling. “I always get chills when I think about the atmosphere and the audience.” She still remembers her first competition in 2012 in London. “I was very focused and determined in my swim and would not give up on anything to do my best. I put a lot of pressure on myself because it was my first time competing and I wanted to outdo myself in the race of a lifetime. I had no idea that I would qualify the second time around.” However, her second attempt at the Games was interrupted by her illness – she had salivary gland cancer, a disease she revealed while competing in the Rio Olympics. “With my illness, I have no pressure. So, I just want to enjoy the present moment.”

She is not the only one who has fond memories of the Olympics. The same is true for Ravi Bhollah. The former weightlifter will never forget his participation, especially as it resulted in the only Olympic medal for Mauritius so far. “That’s the icing on the cake. It must also be said that there is something special about the Mauritian team that came to these Olympics. She was very united and the payoff goes to Bruno Jolie.” In his case, his participation was unique. In fact, he almost failed the qualifying exam to go to Beijing, but was given a ticket after being withdrawn from Iraq. “Just ahead of me in the rankings, there was an Iraqi athlete. Since they had to withdraw from the Olympics, I received an invitation to participate.”

He added that he knew the competition would be fierce. Beijing’s infrastructure could not compare with Mauritius. “I’m happy to give it my all. Of course, we give it our all, especially because we want to do good for the country. It’s a great experience, especially because Mauritian athletes don’t go there two or three times.” The life of an Olympic athlete is enough to make many people envious. In fact, it is a unique opportunity to rub shoulders with sports stars. “I had the opportunity to meet sprinter Usain Bolt, tennis players Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, and the late basketball player Kobe Bryant. He was very friendly and didn’t have a big head.” He said the pressure of the Olympics was less than that of the Indian Ocean Island Games because these regional games had more expectations on the performance of local people. “In any case, the Beijing Olympics is still the largest Olympics ever, especially in terms of organization. Everything is perfect.”

Especially since 2008, the Olympics will be remembered “Mauritian Magician” Bruno Jolie. The bantamweight boxer found himself in the semi-finals, where he had already secured a medal. Despite an epic battle, he failed to reach the final, but brought Morris his first Olympic medal.

Keep the dream alive with the Olympia Association

From 2023, the Mauritius Olympians Association is in existence. The latter’s role is to ensure that all those who participated in the Olympic Games are not forgotten. Their names are already engraved on the walls of the Côte d’Or. For its secretary general, Ravi Bhollah, the association was created to help all those who have the opportunity to defend the four colours. “We have 92 Olympians at the moment. Others will join us after the Paris Olympics. The association aims to help all those who are neglected and unemployed, etc.

In addition, some still active athletes even asked the association for help, such as bad guys Kate Foo Kune and Julien Paul. “They told us they felt ill-prepared and we contacted a number of companies. In fact, two dietary supplement companies are currently helping them.” Former judoka Priscilla Cherry, who is competing in the African Judo Masters and travelling to Paris, has also benefited from the association’s support. Ravi Bhollah hopes that their project to help athletes get higher education will see the light of day in the near future. “Some people are unable to get five credits or two A Levels. But we have had discussions with some institutions and they are prepared to make exemptions so that they can continue their studies.