Flute acting as “big brother” to French team on Rio quest

Olympic gold medallist Sebastien Flute in is Shanghai for the Hyundai Archery World Cup. Recently revealed as World Archery’s 12th greatest Olympian in history, he is part of a concerted French effort to get to Rio – whatever it takes. 

The 1992 Olympic Champion has worked with the French national federation for many years, but has recently stepped up to a more direct role with the senior recurves.

“I’ve been working with the French team since Copenhagen. I’m not really a coach, I’m more like a… big brother to the team [laughs]. I’m here to share my experience, and of course I know very well what it is to compete in the Olympics and selection and training and so on,” said Flute.

Despite a consistent presence at the highest level, with Jean-Charles Valladont winning the fourth Archery World Cup stage in Poland last year, the French team came away from Copenhagen empty-handed in terms of Olympic slots. 

The pressure is definitely on.

“Of course, the qualification tournaments coming up are incredibly important. We’ve been at several training camps this year, but Shanghai is the first contact the archers will have with international competition, and it will be interesting to see what we’ll need to do, which track people will need to follow,” Flute added.

The 1992 Olympic champion is no stranger to Shanghai: “I was last here as an archer in 2011, but I have been here many times for my business, too.”

(Flute now owns a well-known line of archery products.)

“I like the old town part a lot.”

The Shanghai weather has been less than kind so far – official practice was notable for grey skies and continuous heavy rain.

“For me there is no difference between shooting in sunshine and rain. Of course it’s a little more uncomfortable out there, but it’s still better than a 20km wind. And it’s the same for everybody, of course,” said Seb.

After this week, the French team are only sending two senior recurve archers to the world cup in Medellin, preferring to concentrate their efforts on the European Championships in Nottingham, where three individual Rio spots are available in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

With the tournaments so close together but physically far apart, many squads are faced with the same choice. 

Flute will also be working with the squad at the last Hyundai Archery World Cup stage of the year, Antalya, which also acts at the last world qualifier for the Games, with at least 24 Olympic places up for grabs.

“We will see what happens there - whether we’re going to Rio or going on holiday! It would have been good to get the job done last year, but here we are,” said Flute. “I’m very confident for the men’s team, for the women’s team it will be tougher, but we are here to do the job.”