It was an open secret, although the main interested party had so far refused to reveal her decision, waiting for the opportune moment. At 40, after 23 professional seasons, Céline Dumerc will be retiring from sport. ” For real “, promises the indestructible leader of Basket Landes in the interview she gave us (a podcast to be found below). A decision she had repeatedly put off.
First in 2021, at the end of a season marked by the Covid and ended with a title of champion of France – her seventh in a personal capacity – in the anonymity of a Prado de Bourges behind closed doors. Then last year, taken aback by his club and his leaders the day after the evening to water the victory in the Coupe de France gleaned after an epic match at Bercy against Bourges (91-88, a.2.p .).
On April 22, the unexpected double succeeded by Basket Landes in the Cup, after dominating Asvel in the final (71-64), only reinforced the conviction of “Cap’s” to put an end to a rich career. , ended on a good note as well as a qualification for the play-offs at the end of a difficult season for Basket Landes. This Saturday, in the François Mitterand space, “BL” will face Bourges, which is one of the favorites of the season. The quarters and halves being played in two matches, Dumerc could therefore experience his very last emotions at home this weekend.
An impressive track record
Without even mentioning her 262 selections for the French team, a record, Céline Dumerc will thus put an end to a club career essentially spent in Bourges (2003-2009 then 2011-2016), started in her hometown, in Tarbes ( 2000-2003), with stints in Yekaterinburg (Russia, 2009-2011) and Atlanta (WNBA, 2014). A career that has seen her win seven French championship titles (2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2021), seven French Cups (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2022 and 2023) and a Eurocup (2016). All while accumulating individual distinctions (MVP in 2007-2008 and 2013-2014), like her last season, which she finished as the all-time top scorer in the Women’s League (4,662 points).
On the podium of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Céline Dumerc observes Edwige Lawson-Wade’s silver medal. (P. Lahalle/The Team)
History will, of course, remember Dumerc’s successful exploits with Les Bleues: at Euro 2009, where the French team – that of the “Braqueuses” – won its second European title (after 2001) in Riga, but above all at the London Olympics, completed with the silver medal around his neck. A competition during which Dumerc, magnified by his three-point “clutch” shots, had radiated to the point of becoming an emblematic figure of basketball and women’s sport in the following years. In a fairly easy parallel to establish with Tony Parker, whom she had attended during their training at Insep (1997-2000).
Despite her withdrawal from the courts as a player, Dumerc will not completely disappear from the basketball landscape: in addition to starting a retraining at Basket Landes, where she must occupy a position of sports director, she has been, since 2020, general manager of the French women’s team, which allows it to make the link between generations, and also with the staff. A role that she will occupy at least until the Olympic Games – where France dreams of gold -, hoping to have gleaned by then, under this new cap, a second title of European champion this summer.