Juliette Bossu (FRA): “I'm the type to think that everything happens for a reason”

While her teammates travelled to the US to train at Simone Biles’ gym, Juliette Bossu, silver medallist with the team at last year’s European Championships, announced the end of her career. She talks to the French Gymnastics Federation about this decision and reflects on her years in the French team.

 

FFGym: Can you explain us the reasons why you decided to put an end to your career?

J. Bossu: The first reason, are my pains in my knees. In the last three years, I have only been doing Uneven Bars while all other girls were training on the four apparatus. This was becoming very complicated to handle. I was physically and morally tired. Also, I wasn’t part of the team in preparation for the World Championships, I haven’t been called in for the last camps in Barcelona & Huston. Therefore, I wasn’t really anymore a part of the group training for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. So, I have decided to put an end to my high-level career. I need to have a break with gymnastics. I will surely come back later to give myself a treat.

How did you learn that you were not part of the team in preparation for the World Championships?

Following the apparatus finals of the French Championships in Saint-Brieuc, we reunited with the team from Saint-Étienne. The coaches congratulated us for the work accomplished during the weekend. At the end, Eric [Hagard] took me aside and told me that after talking with Véronique [Legras-Snoeck], I would not take part in the preparation for the World Championships, even though I had done a good job because I’m a specialist.

Did you already think about stopping before that announcement?

No, not really, well, we always have some down and doubt moments, when this idea crosses our mind, but it was never serious. I really took that decision this summer following this announcement.

You tried to come back on other apparatus, why hasn’t it succeeded?

Indeed, I tried to come back on some apparatus, but my knees are not following me. For a year and a half or even two years, I was getting up the morning and my knee was hurting. I couldn’t walk or climb up the stairs correctly. As soon as we would go on floor, my pains were so strong that I was crying. This has been the hardest period of my life. And I didn’t want to relive those years. So, I decided to not go back on vault, beam or floor.

How do you feel about stopping gymnastics?

My decision is very recent and I still feel a bit sad. This has been a very difficult choice to make and I try not think about it too much. There hasn’t been one moment when I told myself that I took the wrong decision. When I look back to the trainings and re-think about my state of mind, I know it wasn’t healthy and that it was time for me to stop. Therefore, I am certain about my decision. I am also a bit stressed because my whole life I’ve only done gymnastics, it will be a very big change.

What will happen next for you?

I would like to go to the USA for 6 months as au pair, because I have always loved that country. I wanted to do one year in a university, but as I’m only doing one apparatus and a study grant is necessary it was a bit too complicated. I have a few contacts but for the moment the project hasn’t succeeded. They might contact me again if they have some free places. Meanwhile, I focus on my au pair project.

Can you come back on the best moment of your career?

I keep in mind a lot of good moments. I loved my junior years. We had a great team; it was the time when we were doing gymnastics easily, without any pains. We went to one competition after the other and we loved it. We won everything. Afterwards, I became a senior, and these too were nice years, but I can’t remember arriving to a competition with the impression of being perfectly ready. These years have been more tumultuous, but still, they were nice moments and the discovery of a new way of training and a requirement of an intense preparation to do well. One of my best memories will always be our team silver medal at the European Championships in Glasgow. This made us remember the team spirit we had while being juniors, with the same team. We were determined and went for gold: wining silver was nearly a deception even though it was an historical medal. We had beaten the Russians during the qualifications!

What will you remember from your gymnastics years?

Everything. It was my life until now. I went more to gymnastics than school, I saw my coaches more often than my family. Gymnastics taught me a lot of things and especially the taste of effort.

You have been training for 6 years in Saint-Étienne, are you sad to leave?

I haven’t seen the girls since my decision, because I am on “extended” holidays. I have planned to go back to Saint-Étienne on August 24^th to say goodbye, get my stuff back and empty my apartment. I think it will be a moment full of emotions, but it won’t change my decision. Then, I will go back to Mulhouse at my parent’s house for a few weeks before heading to the USA.

A word for the end?

Representing France has been a gigantic chance, the best thing that ever happened to me. If the circumstances were different, I wouldn’t stop today, but I'm the type to think that everything happens for a reason.

 

Merci Juliette!