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Youna Dufournet

by Elise from Saint Jean De Braye

Youna Dufournet at beam (federation fran?aise gym ())
Youna Dufournet at beam (federation fran?aise gym ())

Youna Dufournet is a French gymnast. She was born on the 19th of October 1993, in Saumur. She started gymnastics when she was 7 years old in the "USEAB Avoine", where she trained several hours a week. With her ambition, her coach decides quickly to go up her workouts to 25 hours a week.

franceolympique.com, ?quipe de France olympique ()
franceolympique.com, ?quipe de France olympique ()

In 2006, she joined the French team and finished 5th at the world Championships. With the French team, she finished 8th at the Massilia Cup and 6th, individually, at the Pommel Horse. In 2007, she finished 1st in the overall of the national cup, 1st on uneven bars. She finished 3rd on beam and 4th on vault. She became stronger at the beam and the uneven bars. In 2008, she was crowned European junior champion on beam and pommel horse, which became her third strong point. She became vice-champion on floor, individually and in the team too. In 2009, in the Mediterranean games, she won 5 medals including 4 gold medals and the silver medal on beam, on 8 medals won by the team. At the World Championships, she won the silver medal on vault, and ranked 5th in the individual classification.

franceolympique.com
franceolympique.com

In 2010, she again won the silver medal on vault at the Worlds Championships. She won gold medals, always on vault, at Berçy during the World Cup, where she also raid the bronze on uneven bars. Unfortunately, she hurt her knee in June 2010. The re-education was mismanaged and Youna was demoralized. She wanted to stop gym, but her family helped her to recover. She talked on the phone with Yann Cucherat (double world medalist in 2005) who advised her to change her training structure. That's why Youna left Avoine to join the Insep (Instiut national du sport, de l'expertise et de la performance), the national institut of sport.

ASPS gymnastique sportive ()
ASPS gymnastique sportive ()

After her injury she was not as good on the ground, so she gave up the open competition. Today, she focuses on the pommel horse, on uneven bars and beam. Her favourite sportsmen are Emilie Le Pennec, Isabelle Severino and Yann Cucherat, all recognized and rewarded gymnasts. Youna is ambitious and strict with herself, despite her young age; she is the next hope for the France team since the announced retirement Emilia Le Pennec.

Youna Dufournet at beam (franceolympique.com ())
Youna Dufournet at beam (franceolympique.com ())

Youna Dufournet is my hero because she inspires the community, and she inspires me. She never gave up, even after her injury, and she is a real hope for France, she made the history of France. She is ambitious, determined and courageous; these qualities are, for me, great values, and she is a model for me. She will be remembered forever for her victories, she will become a legend, a real hero! She makes dreams come true! She has a spirit of togetherness, she brings people together, and everyone holds his breath when she dances and flies on the beam, on bars, on floor and on pommel horse, like a majestic and beautiful bird!

Page created on 4/18/2016 1:07:07 PM

Last edited 4/18/2016 1:07:07 PM

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