At the mention of the ceremony in which she will be honored, and with her mother by her side, the sports director of Basket Landes slightly grimaces, her gaze a bit evasive. It’s not that the Tarbaise is shy, but being in the spotlight is definitely not her cup of tea, she readily admits. “Of course it’s nice, I feel grateful. But individual honors, well… I don’t really like that. It’s great, I think that I left my mark in sports, in a way. But at the same time, we celebrate something from the past, I don’t play anymore. It’s still weird,” she says.
“She is very calming”
In fact, when recounting how she found out the news, it becomes clear that the point guard nearly missed the event without regret. “Someone from Fiba tried calling me several times. But when I don’t recognize the phone number, I don’t answer! They finally managed to reach me by going through someone I know, who told me, ‘Answer, it’s for something nice.’ I wasn’t expecting it at all. I didn’t even know there were nominations,” says Céline Dumerc.
Enthusiasm can certainly be found among the members of Basket Landes, starting with the players. Yohana Ewodo’s smile widens. “I’m very happy for her, it’s amazing recognition! We are extremely proud to have her on our side. She is particularly valuable during games, but also before or after. She is always there to offer a word of support. She is very calming,” reveals the striker. A worthy successor to the number 9 closely linked to the former Basket Landes player (2017-2023) and former leading figure of the French national team (262 caps), even though she operates in a completely different category, Myriam Djekoundade affirms: “It’s so deserved! She has had a very inspiring career for many young girls, motivating them to engage in sports, to believe in themselves. With my 9, I try to live up to that.”
“Extremely meticulous”
The final word goes to the team’s president, Audrey Lacroix, who, informed through the official announcement, chuckles ‘Céline didn’t say anything to us,’ she says, not at all surprised. “It’s an extreme recognition of what she represents for basketball: game intelligence, leadership. Today, she is the same in her roles: serious, precise, meticulous, demanding, extremely meticulous. It’s a real strength to have her with us.” And beyond her role as sports director? “Of course, she brings prestige to the BL name. We benefit from her image and it’s a real asset, especially with sponsors. It’s also a real support for Julie (Barennes, the coach) in recruitment. Not only does her opinion matter, but she is capable of explaining to a player exactly how things will go with us. We hope to keep her for as long as possible.”
