ITF

106 SYDNEY 2000 MEN'S SINGLES BRONZE ARNAUD DI PASQUALE France I t's pretty weird but sometimes I do need to see the pictures just to be sure it was actually me on the podium. I think that no matter what you do, when experiencing some very powerful feelings, sometimes you just need to see a proof of it: a picture, a souvenir, something that will make you remember the moment. And honestly, even when I see the picture, I don't feel it's me in it: I can see a motivation and a determination that I had never had before. Even today, I can barely believe I was able to transcend myself to such a state of mind and determination. It's very astonishing. But more than the match point itself, what I mostly remember is the moment right after on my way to the locker room when I was surrounded by all the French squad who came and supported me. At that particular moment I was feeling as if I was drunk. Literally. I was dazed, I didn't know what to say or what to do, I was a little clumsy and giggling while they were all congratulating me. It was a very, very nice moment. It wasn't a good (bronze medal) match. It was a poor performance. In the previous matches I was playing unbelievably, I was on cloud nine, I was feeling invincible. Let me explain what my state of mind was: for me it was very clear I was going to be the future gold medallist. I really believed it. I knew it from right after the first match, it was meant to be, there was no other possibility! I suddenly said to myself: I'm going to be the Olympic champion, there's no doubt about it, I'm stronger than anyone else. I was fed with energy because of the atmosphere in the Olympic Village and the fact that I was playing for my country, for the flag; all that gave me the feeling I was unbeatable. I was like on a mission. Losing wasn't an option. Usually I'm not superstitious but in this case I became a bit superstitious: for instance, as I didn't stretch after my first match, so I didn't stretch at all during the whole Olympic tournament. Which is completely stupid I must confess. I was aware I was experiencing something I had never experienced before and that I would never experience again. In terms of emotions nothing compares to it. Well, I didn't experience so much during my career but generally, I mean, you're setting goals for yourself, for instance playing on the centre courts, and of course it's nice but there is no comparison. I don't know, something happened. I was in my own bubble, nothing could reach me, you could have given me a wooden board or a kids' scooter and I would have won no matter what. I could even have finished a match with my shoe in my hand instead of my racket. What I did feel back in France was the improved image of tennis from a more global point of view. For me this was another victory because during our days in the Olympic Village we felt that a lot of athletes were staring at us. They were a little surprised as if we were parts of two different worlds. I think that deep in me I had the will to prove that the Olympics were pivotal in our schedule too. The way people looked at me changed a little bit after this medal, people began to think, "This kid must have some values, he's moved by the flag." I was ranked 60th in the world, I wasn't the favourite; the event sublimated me. It's very rare for me to talk about it and it still makes me laugh – being able to reach such heights is amazing. I'm so happy I was able to experience that. Once I thought I had lost my medal. I was looking for it everywhere in the apartment, it drove me completely crazy as I really didn't understand what happened. I was speculating on different possibilities, wondering who could have stolen it. At night I came to my son's bedroom to kiss him goodnight and I found the medal in his bed. Arthur had hidden it under his pillow. He didn't realise because for him it was just a nice item that he liked a lot. You could have given me a wooden board or a kids' scooter and I would have won no matter what.

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