Robert-Michon used to milk the cows

admin

Softball ballSome of the athletes are like the old wine – the older they get, the better they become. Melina Robert-Michon confirmed this phrase earlier this year, winning a silver Olympic medal in throwing a discus at the age of 37 years. This, for sure, is the best achievement in her career. But, it turned out that the medallist from different forums have something in her personal life to surprise with.

“I grew up on a farm, where I had little choice, but I learned a lot there. I remember that I helped my father milking the cows. Then, I learned how to drive a tractor. It wasn’t very difficult. My brother and I drove the tractor as it was child’s play for us,” the experienced sportsman said with a smile on her face.

She also said that she loves playing and watching handball: “I’m a fan of handball. I’ve played, so I understand the game and the rules and I like to follow the French national teams for men and women.”

No one has expected, but Robert-Michon managed to win the silver medal in Rio de Janeiro this summer, which will maybe remain the best achievement in her entire career. She even set a new national record with 66.73, which was the most crucial throw for the medal. The other remarkable competitions for her are the World Championship in Moscow 2013, when she won the silver again. Melina repeated it a year later in the European Championship in Zurich. However, she has won three competitions in her career – The European Athletics U23 Championship (Amsterdam 2001), European Cup Winter Throwing (Leiria 2014) and the Mediterranean Games (Pescara 2009).

So, that’s the story of a farm girl, who reached the biggest stage of the world sport, taking a part in the Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro and winning a medal.

[Read more]

Softball is in the Olympics’ program

admin

Softball ballGreat news for softball! The Olympic games in Tokyo 2020 are going to include the sport in its program. As you know, the last time softball was a part of the most prestigious sports competitions in the world, was in 2008, when Japan made the surprise of the century, winning the final match against the super favourites USA. The news has been announced by the Olympics Channel, so we can say it’s now official!

There have been 4 Olympic softball tournaments so far – from 1996 to 2008. The United States have won the first three editions of the competition. Now, the Americans will surely have the chance to fight for the gold medals again. On the other hand, the last softball Olympic champions – Japan will have the chance to defend their title as the host nation.

The other sports, which are going to be included in the program of the Olympic games in Tokyo 2020 are karate and sport climbing. Don’t know whether these sports will be successful, but softball is the most popular sport among the newly promoted sports in the Olympics program and it has proven for the period between 1996 and 2008 that it has its large audience.

“If I can still sling the rock pretty well, I would be proud if I am selected to play. I was the youngest player in the competition 8 years ago, and I would probably be the oldest in 2020. But I don’t care about it. It would be my honour if I take part in another Olympics,” Monica Abbott, who is one of the legendary American softball players, said in an interview. In 2008 Abbott was only 22 years old – the youngest player in the USA softball squad at the Olympics in Beijing. However, she won the silver medal, which is not enough for such a player. Now she is going to be more motivated, because this may be the last chance for her to play at the biggest stage!

[Read more]