Toulouse. Hivernat: “A great satisfaction”
The captain of the France team, player of the Stade Toulousain, returns to the first continental coronation of the Blues, last Saturday, in Paris.
International campaigns, he has a few on his list. Jonathan Hivernat, 31, captain of the French wheelchair rugby team (or quad rugby) since 2016 and emblematic player of the Stade Toulousain Handisport, lived named the European championship which has just been played in France, in Paris, Halle Carpentier. Where the Blues ended the competition in apotheosis by winning an international title for the first time in their history (1). And at the end of which the Toulousain was elected “best player” of the tournament.
Finally that’s it, the France team won an international title. How do you feel after your success in the European Championship final?
It is a great satisfaction, a consecration that makes us proud. We had a perfect competition. When you look at the script, it’s ideal. We are at home, in front of our public, our friends, our families, we are carrying out a dream course!
You are indeed European champions without losing a match!
It’s great. It had never happened to win every game. In the group stage where we were in a strong group, we had to fight, especially against Denmark, one of the best teams. And the final, against Great Britain, Olympic and European champion in title, the best nation of the moment, it is the pinnacle.
It was obviously an intense final…
Very intense, engaged. The strength of our group is its state of mind, the concentration it has demonstrated throughout the competition. The title, we won it from the first moments of the final thanks to our defense. On one put pressure, on took them by the throat. And even if in the end they managed to reverse the pressure, to asphyxiate us, we held on to beat the British (44-43, Ed).
The public responded present in Paris during this competition, we imagine that it was an additional satisfaction.
Oh yes, amazing. Many have discovered the discipline, curiosity has transformed over the days into interest and for the final, there was a real enthusiasm and what an atmosphere! It adds to the success of this championship.
At 31, you have a great experience in the blue jersey. What are your next goals?
There are the world championships next October, then the 2024 Olympics in Paris. In 2023, during the Rugby World Cup in France, we will also have a world tournament. Then I’ll see what happens next. Am I pushing until the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028? Maybe…
You practice quad rugby but also wheelchair rugby XIII, it seems?
That’s right, I’m even in the group preparing for the World Cup which will take place next November, a month after the quad rugby.
So you are going to do the two tests?
Yes, if ever I am selected in XIII. You know, I’m very hardworking and persistent (laughs).