Athlé: "I'm here to make the job, not to shine," says Romain Barras, new boss of the Blues

The Romain Barras, European Champion of Decathlon in 2010, becomes the boss of the French Athletics team for one of the biggest challenges in its history: succeeding in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Officially appointed Director of High PerformanceThursday, Florian Rousseau's successor will form the hinge of the French Athletics Federation with DTN Patrick Ranvier.Romain Barras has "never ambitioned such a position", and even if he says he is admiring athletes, he wants to be benevolent without being complacent to bring the Blues as high as possible.

Romain Barras, you have been an interim since September 2021 and the departure of Florian Rousseau from his post as director of high performance.Seeing yourself named in its place, is it logical?

As long as you are not named ... Nothing is ever sure.It's an incredible position, he makes a lot of people want.This position is coveted, you hear a lot, especially when you are in the corridors of the federation.President André Giraud is in great demand.I understand, it is very prestigious, athletics is the Olympic sport number 1. I am very happy, it is very prestigious but it is also a lot of pressure.

A very nice promotion precisely for you who have been in charge of the daily life of high Olympic potentials since 2018 with the DTN.Before Paris 2024, the opportunity is magnificent ...

I had never avenue such a position.I came to the FFA with Patrice Gergès (DTN from 2017 to 2020), then I worked with Florian Rousseau, who knew the technique of athletics a little less.So I gained momentum but I was good in my place.I learned a lot with both.With Mehdi Baala also (director of the French teams).I never thought I would get there.But what must be done must be done.You need someone, and I have worked since September, prepared for the future.The high level does not wait.

With Patrick Ranvier at DTN and you in the direction of high performance, do we finally have a solid duo at the head of the Blues of athletics?

Patrick has a huge experience and a great journey.He is the only French DTN to have been in three different sports.It is very important to draw inspiration from these kinds of people and I also have great help from all the FFA teams (Editor's note: the final organization chart is not yet acted).With DTN, we share the same values, the desire to be fair with everyone and not to act with wet finger.Very important too, it is not a tongue of wood, like me.I really appreciate his listening capacity, he knows how to manage disagreements.I want to work in a team.

You are an ancient decathlonian, with the assiduous practice of ten disciplines of athletics.Is that a real strength to be at your post?

I really think so.I can better understand the suffering of athletes, at least a tenth of them ... I know what it is to do a lactic session, to have to gain strength.I also know what is to practice a discipline that is not media, to have a job next to it, to have to study.My journey helps me and the athletes feel it.So I have a high level 20 years, I was a TV consultant too.This has expanded my knowledge of world athletics.With Patrick and Florian, I learned to see behind the scene.And I think the best people to direct, they are not the careers, but those who do not want to direct.I'm here to make the job, not to shine.

First big meeting in Belgrade for the indoor world championships (March 18-20): what are you expecting from the French team?

This is a first step but at the same time, very close to the Olympic objective of Paris 2024. It remains a indoor competition, so we will go with a fairly small team with only potential finalists.We will not take anyone for the discovery ... Other times of the season will be used for this.We will have a seasoned team for the Eugene World Championships (United States) in July, the big goal of the season.Then there will be the European championships in Munich at the end of the summer.There we will go with an extended team to allow young people to see what the high level is.

To return to Belgrade, what are your selection criteria?Will participating in the French championships be compulsory?

You refer to the latest championships in Angers, before the Olympic Games and procrastination around a few athletes.But it was not the majority (Editor's note: Bosse or Vicaut in particular were absent but still traveled to Tokyo).The selection criteria are very important.We must stick to it and avoid exceptions so as not to open the door to the off criterion.Dura Lex Sed Lex!The law is hard but it is the law.The high level is benevolence without complacency.I respect athletes a lot, I know how hard this sport can be hard but there are responsibilities to have.

Propos recueillis par Aurélien Tiercin

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