Thibaut De Marre, the Belgian from Vercors plunges into his Olympic dream
He was born in Saint-Martin-d-Hères, a grand on the Vercors plateau and spent his whole life in Isère; but he wears black, yellow and red. Thibaut De Marre, French by nationality, defended the colors of Belgium – the country of his parents, Christine (from Ghent) and Benoît (from Tournai) – and it is a source of pride for this member of the Ski Club Méaudrais. “My family is super proud. Before I started cross-country skiing, they didn’t really know about this sport. Now everyone follows me, whether in Belgium or here my parents and my sister (Lisa). I’m happy to live that with them. »
His relatives could not come to China, where Thibaut is playing his first Olympic Games. But that hardly alters his pleasure, he who had almost been on the PyeongChang trip (in 2018). “I was close, but that didn’t do it. Finally, it was perhaps a blessing in disguise: I think I was still a little young to participate in the Olympics. I’ve known for four years that I can participate in this 2022 edition and I’ve always had it in the back of my mind when I go to train. »
“We also go there to show the flag”
Even far from the big names in the Nordics, but with the unfailing support of his coach in Méaudre, Valéry Lelièvre, De Marre (member of Team Vercors Isère) has made his way through the snows of Vercors. “I’ve improved a lot in recent years, but I haven’t matured yet. It is rather around 26/28 years that we are the best (in cross-country skiing). »
His progress nevertheless convinced the Belgian Olympic Committee to take him to China within a delegation of 19 athletes. Almost a band of ambassadors of their sport, minor in the flat country. “I love going to the Games as a small nation. We don’t just go there to get a medal, but also to show the flag. And if it can make you want to do this sport, which I love because it is super complete, that would be great. »
The medals, Thibaut De Marre knows he will see them from afar. Even if the five Olympic rings make him dream, he is under no illusions before tackling the four events on his programme. “My flagship race is the 15 km classic, that’s where I most want to perform,” he told us a few days before leaving the Vercors. “I’ve set myself a goal of top 30. For me, it would be exceptional to get there, but it can be achievable. »
From there to think that his first two lessons will serve as preparation… “It will be a bit the case, but I will play my card thoroughly on the four lessons. I have training to recover between classes. Each will be an opportunity to perform. “Especially in the context of Zhangjiakou, the site of the Nordic events (in northern China, near Mongolia… and the desert), which could confuse the issue with totally artificial snow capable of creating surprises.
HIS PROGRAM IN CHINA: Sunday February 6: skiathlon (15 km classic, 15 km skating, 3 p.m. in China and 8 a.m. in France); Tuesday February 8 (classic sprint); Friday 11 February: 15 km individual classic; Saturday February 19: 50 km in skating.