The Beijing Olympics, which end on Sunday, have been rich in success, disappointment and controversy, summed up by the most striking statements collected by AFP journalists:
“Why did you give up? Why did you stop fighting? Explain to me. »
Kamila Valieva’s trainer, Eteri Tutberidze, after the Russian skater’s free program punctuated by falls, declared positive for a doping product at the end of December and long in doubt about her participation
“It doesn’t inspire much confidence in my surroundings, regardless of what may have happened or will happen in the future, how do you treat a 15-year-old underage athlete like that? »
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Eteri Tutberidze’s lack of empathy for his skater’s plight
“There I feel ridiculous. I ask myself many questions. I am disappointed and frustrated. I also know there’s going to be this pile of bad comments about how miserably I’ve failed over the past few weeks. It’s strange but I’m not even afraid of it because I have no more energy to devote to it. »
American queen of alpine skiing Mikaela Shiffrin, announced star of the Olympics, after her third fall
“I have just had the best two weeks of my life. I feel tremendous gratitude and a sense of accomplishment after years and years of hard work. It’s like taking a deep breath of oxygen. »
Chinese freestyle skier Eileen Gu after winning her third medal
“I didn’t particularly enjoy the emotions of the Games, but that was the way I wanted to approach these races, to really stay in it. I wasn’t there to party, I was there to collect medals. »
Biathlete Quentin Fillon Maillet, who won five of France’s 14 medals, including 2 gold
“We did some puzzles, we finished our second puzzle today. Both were pizza cats; cats in space with pizza. »
Canadian Cynthia Appiah, engaged in two-man bobsleigh, trying to distract herself in the health bubble
“When the results came in, I couldn’t read the screen, nothing, I saw completely blurry. I couldn’t see the results or the ranking. Nothing at all. I just deduced by hearing people screaming. »
“It’s like being in a washing machine of emotions. »
Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, sacred in ice dancing
“I drank a glass of wine before the super-G… and afterwards (my teammates) wrote on my door: ‘Drink wine, ski fast’. So I had a drink with them again yesterday. »
Switzerland’s Michelle Gisin after her victory in the alpine combined and her bronze medal in the super-G
“I never projected myself into the future, I was skiing, I liked it and, as I was good, I continued. I went through the ranks but I never projected myself with an Olympic medal or to win World Cups or anything. »
Skier Clément Noël, who won gold in slalom
“I would have liked to be at 80% of my abilities! Out of 10, I rate my physical condition 5.5. I can’t bend the knee. »
Italian skier Sofia Goggia after winning downhill silver three weeks after a heavy crash
“Everyone thought I wouldn’t achieve much in my life, in my career. I’ve always felt this need to prove something and do it again and again, that’s what I’m most proud of. »
American snowboarding legend Shaun White after the last halfpipe competition of his career
“I would have been told that three years ago on my hospital bed, I would have more than signed. »
Frenchman Kevin Rolland, 6th in halfpipe skiing, three years after a fall that almost cost him his life
“If you want to personally attend my training sessions, please, you are welcome. (…) After seeing how we train, you and your readers will no longer ask yourselves these questions. »
The Russian Alexander Bolshunov, triple Olympic champion in cross-country skiing, on the doubts caused by his performances
“When there are human rights atrocities in the country and a bad stance on LGBTQ rights, that needs to be addressed by the IOC. »
British freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy
“The quarantine was not easy to bear. It was a lot of exhausting days, especially mentally. I don’t wish that on anyone. »
German figure skater Nolan Seegert in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19
