Dumerc cautious about home comforts
BOURGES (2016 Rio Olympics) - When a player of the stature of Celine Dumerc issues a warning, listening is non-negotiable and especially when Olympic dreams are on the line.
Likely to be the central figure for France as they look to cement safe passage to Rio 2016 via the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT), the playmaker is viewing home advantage in Nantes with a rather wise note of caution.
We must be very careful as it provides some comfort to be at home in terms of being used to the food, the climate and facilities - but it is not enough to win matches. And then there is also a little pressure - there are expectations of getting results from the public. - Dumerc
However, while a veteran world class player like Dumerc is bound to cover all the angles, there is still no hiding her excitement at being able to play in front of the Les Bleues fans.
She enthused: "At EuroBasket Women 2013 and especially during the group games, we played in venues with incredible fervour. It tends to make you grow wings!
"It was a real popular success and the public and their encouragement carried us and I was even happier when I learned that this FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament would be played in Nantes," explained the 1.69m playmaker.
"I went to play with Bourges in The Trocardiere [venue that will host the WOQT from 13-19 June] in December and I loved it. There were 4,000 people at the game and I think that these fans will want to come back in a few months to support Team France."
Ils nous l'avaient promis, ils l'ont fait!! Merci @jpsiutat & @Th_Braillard ! A nous d'aller chercher le ticket! pic.twitter.com/TTxL6iN8je
— Celine Dumerc (@capsule19) January 19, 2016
As for the biggest question of all, the 33-year-old Dumerc is not giving much away on whether a potential trip to Rio will prove to be a swansong or not.
For now, nothing has been decided. I want to go to the Rio Games, so step number one is Nantes. If we do qualify for the Olympics, I want to make the best possible result - and then we'll see. As at today, the only reason that I would stop my career is if we have the Olympic gold medal around our necks. - Dumerc
"Whatever the outcome, I will see how I feel and how the competition was. There are lots of parameters that come into consideration in my decision," Dumerc said.
FIBA
