Judo. Alexandre Houssein, a Noyonnais at the Olympic Games in August

On July 26, a Noyonnais will parade on the Seine among some 10,000 athletes qualified for the Olympic Games of Paris 2024. Alexandre Housseinwill once again be the pride of his city, for the second time in four years after the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The one who grew up in Noyon, discovered judo there to climb all the ranks and belts within the Judo Club Noyon (JCN) will not, however, represent France, but Djibouti. In Japan in 2018, he was even the standard bearer of his delegation, he who has dual French and Djiboutian nationality having been born in the small African state, to a Djiboutian father and a French mother. Representative of a small country, he could have obtained his qualification automatically, but wanted to obtain it “the regular way”, on the tatami mats. What he did.

At 26, a second participation for the former French team

At 26, he is currently following a course at a business school in Grenoble. Alexandre Houssein continues to train regularly in Noyon with the coach who introduced him to judo, Michel Lebrun. Back in France after an internship in Japan at the beginning of June, he will prepare for his second Olympics with Michel Lebrun.

Alexandre could have represented France. When he was still training at the JCN, then a cadet, he was selected for the French team. “He was one of the best of his generation,” recalls Michel Lebrun, “he was even the best cadet in his category in Europe and won a team bronze medal.” But at the end of his training, when he was turning senior, he suffered an injury. “We had already had calls from the Djiboutian federation, but when they came to see him again at that time to offer him an Olympic scholarship, that is to say also means extra time to train and work, he didn’t hesitate.

Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Tokyo… his Noyon coach Michel Lebrun follows him everywhere

Under the colors of his second country, Alexandre Houssein continued his international career. Now having participated in four world championships, African championships and the African Cup where he has won medals in the under 73 kg category with great regularity. Always, like any athlete, with the next Olympics in mind. Which is still true when you have grown up and spent your entire life in the host country. To prepare, Alexandre once again called on Michel Lebrun. The latter traveled to Cairo in recent weeks to Egypt for the African championships, as he did for the world championships in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

One month before the games, the coach believes “that Alexandre is ready”. In the home stretch, the champion “will complete the last strong phase of his program to be able, two weeks before the meeting, to treat the injuries and arrive fresh”. A goal in Paris? “To do as well as four years ago, to pass at least one round: to record a victory on the tatami during the Olympic Games, that’s huge,” enthuses Michel Lebrun. If Alexandre Houssein “won’t start as a favorite”, he reminds us that anything can happen in this sport where with one movement, a fight can change. “In Tokyo, he beat a guy on a mega box, he made me stand up, it was incredible,” says his trainer. He then went out with honors, losing against the reigning world champion.

In Paris, Alexandre will be accompanied… obviously by Michel Lebrun, who will coach him during the Olympics. “It’s very rare in judo to do the Olympics with the coach who made you start,” underlines Michel Lebrun. But who better to lead Alexander? “I’ve carried it everywhere since I was little,” laughs Michel Lebrun. Everywhere: including the four corners of the world.

The Judo Club Noyon, a factory of champions

If the Judo Club Noyonnais will have a worthy representative in the Olympic dojo this summer, it is anything but a coincidence. The club is a nursery of champions which accumulates medals year after year in all categories and competitions. The proof again in recent weeks with the youngest children who competed in the Hauts-de-France championships in Verquin (Pas-de-Calais). The JCN took around ten qualified people there.

Maissa Benali in -36 kg only lost one fight this season, in the final of the Amiens tournament by decision. She quite logically won the regional championship for her first participation in this age category. Team champion of Hauts-de-France, Picardy and Oise, she is also very gifted in… football and is already followed by the biggest clubs in France.

Sakina Korchi is the youngest second year. Last year third at the regional championships, undefeated this year, and arch-favorite of the competition, she unfortunately had to withdraw this year in the 1st round after a nasty injury to her ankle and shin. In full recovery, she hopes to return as quickly as possible, having already won the Oise and Picardy championships. She was also crowned Hauts-de-France team champion with Maissa Benali And Kellynia Ballon. A moving moment when the young Maissa Benali offered her medal to the unfortunate Sakina at the end of the individual championship…

Also promising boys

For boys, youngest first year, Imran El Aouini finished in second place in the regionals in the -50 kg category after, this year, a title of champion of Oise and Picardy. He had already won a team bronze medal with Jahyan Roualdes. Aymen Belkacemhe also in less than 50kg finished 5ᵉ.

Among the – 34 kg, Jahyan Roualdes, 1st year, won bronze. While Elyes Sabar took fifth place in the -60 kg category. Finally in -38 kg Bastian Cadot finished 7th.

Finally in the consolation cup, bringing together the best young people who had not qualified for the championship, Stan Mostrage won in the -46 kg class. And among the cadets, Camille

Finally, note that among the cadets, Camille Vanwierst, signed a 5th place in mid-May at the French championships in the -52 kg category. And among the cadets always, Salim Oubenaissa, 3rd at the end of March during the French championships in -81 kg, has just been selected at the new Pôle France in Châtenay-Malabry which opens its doors in September. “Very good news for his progress,” underlines his coach Michel Lebrun.