31/05/2006
News
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FRA - Shy and retiring Melain proud of trophy-laden career
PARIS (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Cathy Melain claims she is shy, but that certainly never prevented her from becoming the most successful French women's player of all time.
The 32-year-old shooting guard/forward, a gold medal winner at the 2001 EuroBasket Women, announced her international retirement on Wednesday after 12 years of services with Les Bleues and a total of 227 caps.
"It was not an easy decision to make, I had to weigh up the pros and cons," she told PA Sport.
"I did not decide just like that. My family and friends listened to me a lot. But this is sad in a way because this is the end of a long adventure."
Melain will continue playing for her club side Bourges until her contract runs out in June 2007, but she has yet to decide on what the future holds for her after that.
"For now I feel capable, committed and motivated. After that I will see how I feel and if I still want to go on training or if I have any physical problems," she said.
"I hope that by then I will be sure that this is the end of the road for me and that I won't have any regrets if I retire.
"This is how I felt with the French team."
Melain made her debut for France in December 1993 against Germany and enjoyed her first success with the national team three years later, winning a bronze medal at the Mediterranean Games.
She also won silver at the EuroBasket Women in 1999 before helping her country lift the title two years later in a tournament were she was voted the competition's MVP.
In 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, she was part of the France side that finished fifth.
"I have been fulfilled by my career. I had great results and met so many interesting people," Melain said.
"The European Championship title was obviously the most important for me, we were at the top in terms of level and collective awareness.
"The Olympic Games (in 2000) as well were a fantastic experience.
"I'd always wanted to play at the Olympics and take part in the opening ceremony. It was a dream."
With Bourges Melain won the EuroLeague in 1997, 1998 and 2001 as well as five French titles between 1996 and 2000. She also won four Tournoi de la Federation in 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Melain then had a two-year spell with Italian side Venise between 2003 and 2005 before returning to Bourges where she won the French Cup, the league title and the Tournoi de la Federation last season.
Despite winning so much silverware and earning so many plaudits, Melain hopes she has managed to remain humble and keep her feet on the ground.
"I should be glad because I have never really had to go against my nature," she said.
"I am quite a discreet, timid person.
"I was often told that it would be good if I could make my voice heard more often.
"But if you lose your nature you also lose your game in a way.
"When abroad however I've had to go against my nature. In Italy I did not want just to do my job and go home.
"I wanted to adapt and integrate. So I pushed myself and tried to speak to people more. Then they accepted me the way I was and I could be myself again.
"It is true that when you see me at first you may think I am haughty or that I don't want to speak at all. In some cases it's true but most of the time it is just shyness."
When asked about her plans for the future, Melain kept her cards close to her chest, although she did admit she could be interested in coaching.
Melain has already passed the first level of the coaching diploma run by the French federation and is due to complete the course this year.
"I would like to stay in basketball but this world is small and there is not a big choice of jobs," she said.
"Coaching? Why not. We will see."
In the meantime France will travel to Brazil for the FIBA World Championship for Women and Melain admits she does not know how she will feel when her former international team-mates leave without her.
"I don't know yet how I will react," she said. "I will follow the team, for sure, but I will stay in France where I have to prepare with Bourges."
The federation is also preparing a celebration to mark Melain's international retirement.
"I don't know yet when this will take place, but I don't really like being at the centre of attention," she added.
"I don't mind people showing respect but I don't like being bothered too much."
By Isabelle Rondeau, PA Sport. Exclusively for FIBA
The 32-year-old shooting guard/forward, a gold medal winner at the 2001 EuroBasket Women, announced her international retirement on Wednesday after 12 years of services with Les Bleues and a total of 227 caps.
"It was not an easy decision to make, I had to weigh up the pros and cons," she told PA Sport.
"I did not decide just like that. My family and friends listened to me a lot. But this is sad in a way because this is the end of a long adventure."
Melain will continue playing for her club side Bourges until her contract runs out in June 2007, but she has yet to decide on what the future holds for her after that.
"For now I feel capable, committed and motivated. After that I will see how I feel and if I still want to go on training or if I have any physical problems," she said.
"I hope that by then I will be sure that this is the end of the road for me and that I won't have any regrets if I retire.
"This is how I felt with the French team."
Melain made her debut for France in December 1993 against Germany and enjoyed her first success with the national team three years later, winning a bronze medal at the Mediterranean Games.
She also won silver at the EuroBasket Women in 1999 before helping her country lift the title two years later in a tournament were she was voted the competition's MVP.
In 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, she was part of the France side that finished fifth.
"I have been fulfilled by my career. I had great results and met so many interesting people," Melain said.
"The European Championship title was obviously the most important for me, we were at the top in terms of level and collective awareness.
"The Olympic Games (in 2000) as well were a fantastic experience.
"I'd always wanted to play at the Olympics and take part in the opening ceremony. It was a dream."
With Bourges Melain won the EuroLeague in 1997, 1998 and 2001 as well as five French titles between 1996 and 2000. She also won four Tournoi de la Federation in 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Melain then had a two-year spell with Italian side Venise between 2003 and 2005 before returning to Bourges where she won the French Cup, the league title and the Tournoi de la Federation last season.
Despite winning so much silverware and earning so many plaudits, Melain hopes she has managed to remain humble and keep her feet on the ground.
"I should be glad because I have never really had to go against my nature," she said.
"I am quite a discreet, timid person.
"I was often told that it would be good if I could make my voice heard more often.
"But if you lose your nature you also lose your game in a way.
"When abroad however I've had to go against my nature. In Italy I did not want just to do my job and go home.
"I wanted to adapt and integrate. So I pushed myself and tried to speak to people more. Then they accepted me the way I was and I could be myself again.
"It is true that when you see me at first you may think I am haughty or that I don't want to speak at all. In some cases it's true but most of the time it is just shyness."
When asked about her plans for the future, Melain kept her cards close to her chest, although she did admit she could be interested in coaching.
Melain has already passed the first level of the coaching diploma run by the French federation and is due to complete the course this year.
"I would like to stay in basketball but this world is small and there is not a big choice of jobs," she said.
"Coaching? Why not. We will see."
In the meantime France will travel to Brazil for the FIBA World Championship for Women and Melain admits she does not know how she will feel when her former international team-mates leave without her.
"I don't know yet how I will react," she said. "I will follow the team, for sure, but I will stay in France where I have to prepare with Bourges."
The federation is also preparing a celebration to mark Melain's international retirement.
"I don't know yet when this will take place, but I don't really like being at the centre of attention," she added.
"I don't mind people showing respect but I don't like being bothered too much."
By Isabelle Rondeau, PA Sport. Exclusively for FIBA
