It’s only a matter of weeks, or days. After a year disturbed by injuries, the last of which to the pectoralis major, Anne-Cécile Ciofani finally sees the end of the tunnel. The best player in the world of sevens rugby is working hard to be available for the French stage of the world circuit, in Toulouse, in mid-May. And, above all, to return to a group that is preparing for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Because, after the silver medal obtained in Tokyo, during the 2021 Olympics, the one who was also vice-world champion absolutely wants to take her revenge on the final lost against the New Zealanders that she still has not digested. . The Stade Français player, at XV, evokes the long period of convalescence, her doubts and, above all, the desire to be, already, in Paris, in eighteen months.
You had a complicated year in terms of injuries, with a final one on the shoulder when you returned to Stade Français in January…
The period after the Games was complicated. When we say that the mind is linked to the body, I paid the price quite quickly. I had an injury the year after the Olympics. I have patellar tendonitis that dragged on a lot, and I think it was related to my mental state. I was really exhausted, and my body needed to rest. And indeed, during my return match, where I hoped to reintegrate the France team at VII then, I injured my pectoralis major, a rare injury among women. There, I am a little over two months from the operation. And I’m on the last phase. We are entering a big physical block and the resumption of rugby at full speed in the coming weeks, if all goes well.
You are an employee with the FFR and you were injured at XV, with the Stade Français…
I was very stressed. Because, when you get injured in a club, in a hobby, because we’re not professional, it’s a bit tricky. I arrived walking on eggshells, saying, “Oops, sorry, I injured myself in the club. Already, as an athlete, it’s annoying to get injured, but even more when it’s outside of our work. Afterwards, it’s difficult to separate club sport and sport with France VII. It’s still rugby, injuries can happen anytime. Afterwards, it was not the big drama. It was quickly managed by the Federation, and everything is in place for me to come back as soon as possible.
Will we see you during the French stage of the world circuit, at the end of May in Toulouse?
Every day, I get up and think about my recovery in Toulouse. Every day, I ask the physio to do more, even if it’s not the solution. On paper and medically, it will be good. Now, we are around twenty players to apply each time. I’m going to have to play, to prove myself again, to find a place for myself in the group that I left some time ago. It’s still a short-term goal, it’s a big motivation every day when I train. Afterwards, we must also take into account the fact that a return too early is not necessarily the best option. If, in Toulouse, I am too fair physically or on the benchmarks on the ground, the coach will make the right choices. But I need this objective to chain the days which are very long.
Are you afraid, with this long absence, for your place for the Olympics?
Completely. It is above all a team sport, and we are lucky to have a fairly dense collective, which means that no one is essential. This makes it easy to remedy the absences of each other. I am not installed at all, and I will have to come back as strong, even stronger than before. No matter the individual titles, we all have to prove ourselves after a long period of absence. So, fear is a very big word, but my place is not guaranteed in Paris, nor even in Toulouse or on the next stages of the world circuit. You have to work.
Since the silver medal obtained in Tokyo, how do you analyze the situation of French rugby sevens?
After the last Games, there was a big turnover of players, where the girls who didn’t have the chance to make the Olympics were able to integrate the group to a greater extent. There were also many injuries. You have to succeed in finding benchmarks, it takes time, the level increases from year to year. It’s a balance to be found, which is not necessarily obvious. The coaches do a crazy job, you have to succeed in finding harmony so that the players feel good and perform. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work. The post-Olympic year has been full of twists and turns, and it’s not over because there are a lot of side injuries. But I’m not worried about the rest.
What lessons did you learn from the lost final in Tokyo?
The final, it is still there [en travers de la gorge]. There is a huge revenge to take, and that’s also why I want to return to the field so much. Matches like the one we had in the final, we have to win them. Since then, I haven’t even watched the final. The lesson we take away is that we can do it. When it’s at hand and you’re not in control of what’s going on, because there are so many things to take into account, it’s very frustrating.
How, precisely, did you appreciate this silver medal?
Frankly, it may be ungrateful to say it because many athletes have not had the chance to have medals, and we should be satisfied with that and be happy, and I am, but when you spend too much up close, it’s very hard to savor it. Thanks to my relatives and the feedback we have, I appreciate this medal. Maybe I would appreciate it a little more after a nice medal in Paris.
Especially since, in Paris, with France behind you, it will necessarily work in your favor…
I don’t know. It’s going to be crazy to play at home. I can’t wait and worry every time I think about it. It’s a crazy pressure and it’s something that we will have to learn to manage. And we may have to work on it upstream. Because playing at home happens to us once a year in Toulouse. But there, playing in such a big stadium, for such an important event, in front of thousands of supporters, we will have to manage the pressure. At least in Tokyo, as there was no one in the stands, there were no communication problems, we all got along on the pitch.
You were crowned best player in the world in 2021. But you have always highlighted the collective dimension…
For a long time I did an individual sport, athletics, and the sensations provided by sevens rugby have nothing to do with athletics. Me, I’m addicted to that, to training as a team, to winning as a team, to surpassing ourselves all together. There are workouts where we end up on the kneecaps, but we all end up together. And, if we end up like this, it’s because the girlfriend pushed you behind. We live things together so much that this distinction is for the collective. This trophy, I owe it to the girls, it is inseparable.
In view of the Olympic Games, in addition to your contract with the Federation, you are also supported by sponsors, and have joined Team EDF…
I was so happy to be able to sign this partnership with them. Individual partnerships in team sports are quite rare. EDF is a crazy sponsor, which totally corresponds to my values. Before the signature, we discussed a lot about their commitments, such as gender parity, disabled people… I felt like I recognized myself in that. And, today, I am very happy and very proud to be part of this collective.
You also recently participated in a conference on mental health. Did you feel that this accompaniment had missed you in your career?
Yes, I felt it when I got hurt, when I was alone at home. I found myself on my couch and it felt like a mental dump. Having support or sponsors that mentally allow me to deal with the situation better could have been more motivating. At the FFR, we have a mental trainer available, but it is not mandatory. And we are a few to look for on our side. We also have psychological support with the Fédé and we can go see him when we want.