Born: 1974 (Dechy, France)
Séverine Vandenhende (born January 12, 1974 in Dechy) is a French judoka. She won the gold medal in the -63 kg category at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She also won the title of world champion three years earlier at the 1997 edition held in France. After her sports career, she remained in the world of judo by becoming a coach within the federal system.
Biography:
Originally from Dechy, near Douai, Séverine Vandenhende is the youngest of three daughters whose father is a minor. It was in Vieux-Condé, near Valenciennes, where her parents had moved, that she made her judokate debut at the age of eight. Two years later, she competed in her first competitions. After championships of France hopes contested at sixteen, she joined the national youth training center, in Châtenay-Malabry. She won the bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in Nuenos Aires in October 1992. She achieved her first important results in the senior category by finishing third in the 1994 Paris tournament in -61 kg. The same year she won the Budapest tournament. In February 1996 she finished third in the Paris tournament then won the Prague tournament in March. However, she was beaten in the France team by Cathy Fleury, Olympic champion of the 1992 Games, for whom she was the substitute at the Atlanta edition. In 1997, for the third time in her career, she finished third in the Paris tournament. she then finished third at the 1997 European Championships in Ostend.
At the age of 23, she won the world title at the 1997 World Championships held at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy. She defeated Belgium’s Gella Vandecaveye in the final by ippon. However, when asked, she did not regularly return to training. She competed at the 1998 European Championships in Oviedo. She lost in her quarterfinal to Spain’s Sara Álvarez. She then lost in the repechage to Slovenian Sraka. She faced numerous injuries during periods of high activity, including shoulder surgery and an external ligament injury to her left knee.
Returning from her injuries, she participated in the 1999 World Championships in Birmingham. Unfortunately, she experienced stage fright and ended up being sick on the carpet, which she considered the worst shame of her life. Despite this setback, the management of the France team had confidence in her and she participated the following season in obtaining a quota for France in her weight category, finishing second in the Paris tournament and the Grand Prix de Rome. She also finished second at the May 2000 European Championships in Aalst, where she was beaten in the final by Gella Vandecaveye.
During the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Séverine Vandenhende displayed exceptional skill and determination, ultimately winning the gold medal in the -63 kg category. Her victory solidified her place among the great judokas of her time.
After her remarkable competitive career, Vandenhende transitioned into coaching within the French judo federation. Her experience and passion for the sport allowed her to guide young athletes and pass on her knowledge to the next generation.
Séverine Vandenhende’s contributions to the world of judo have left a lasting impact on the sport. Her achievements as a world champion and Olympic gold medalist serve as inspiration to aspiring judokas around the world, demonstrating the importance of hard work, perseverance, and dedication.
Awards:
– Gold Medal, -63 kg category, 2000 Summer Olympics, Sydney
– World Champion, 1997 World Judo Championships, Paris