Mélodie Richard

Mélodie Richard, French junior archery champion in 2021, has set her sights on a career in epigenetics research alongside her sporting career. At 21, this student of molecular and cellular biology, has her sights set on a new challenge: the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

How did your passion for archery come about?

Mélodie RIchard: My mother introduced me to it at the age of six. Then I developed a taste for competitions. At the age of 12, I entered a sport-study program. I learned to love working to progress. As I got older, I realized that what I liked most about the sport was taking time for myself and concentrating on my feelings. It's an activity that demands calm and serenity, but it's also the one that thrills me the most.

Why did you choose the Molecular and Cellular Biology master's program at Sorbonne University? 

M.R .: I chose Sorbonne University for its reputation, to follow in the footsteps of my father who studied at Jussieu, and because it has close links with the INSEP where I train. When I was at college, I thought I'd become an agronomist, but when I discovered molecular biology at university, I became passionate about it and joined the BMC master's program to do research in epigenetics.

How do you reconcile your studies with High-level Sport program, and how does Sorbonne University support you in this dual project?

M.R . :

It's not easy. I train 45 hours a week. I go to class two hours a week, and the rest of the time I work remotely, thanks to videos sent to me by my teachers and tutors.

I have a flexible timetable that allows me to spread my studies over several years. These arrangements are possible thanks to the support of my Masters supervisors, the teaching team and my schooling manager at Insep. They are all working hand in hand to provide me with the best possible support in this dual sporting and academic project.

The Passport for the Olympics scholarship program supported by Crédit Agricole d'Ile-de-France Sponsorship and the Sorbonne University Foundation is also helping me to finance my computer and archery equipment.
 

What do the Paris Olympics mean to you and how are you preparing for them?

M.R .: It's a lifelong dream. I've been training for years with the aim of becoming Olympic champion. To prepare myself, I gather as much experience as possible from international competitions, and I try to learn every day to progress and become the best on the day of the Games.

Do you have a lucky object or a special ritual?

M.R .: Archery often takes me to shoot in other countries. I love opening up to what's going on outside the competition and discovering things that are different from my everyday life. I spend a lot of time with my teammates, who are also my friends. On competition day, I listen to a lot of music before warming up and setting up my shooting routine. I always shoot with my bobsled, which protects me from the sun and rain, elements that have to be managed in this sport.

What was your most memorable competition?

M.R .: The team semi-final of the Senior World Championships in the USA against the Koreans, the reigning Olympic champions, who have dominated the circuit for the last twenty years. My two teammates and I shot very well. When we reached the tie-break, I shot first. Everyone was watching me. I shot a magnificent 10! In the end, we had the same score, but as their arrow was closer to the center, the Koreans won. We were very proud of our match because our opponents were legends in our sport and we were very young. The next day we won the bronze medal against the Brazilians. It was my first World Championship arena, an exhibition ground with an audience, cameras and all. It was an incredible experience, especially with this first world medal.

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