Paris 2024 Olympics: Melanie de Jesus dos Santos reveals how American experience has changed her
France’s Melanie de Jesus dos Santos arrives at her home Olympics not only as a very different gymnast than the one who finished 11th in the all-around at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but also a very different person.
The 24-year-old, disappointed by her results three years ago, has changed almost everything in her life.
De Jesus dos Santos has spent the better part of the time since Tokyo living and training in Houston, Texas, alongside French coaches Laurent and Cecile Landi, a 1996 Olympian, and the sport’s superstar Simone Biles.
She’s focused on her mental health, on giving herself grace in tough moments and on the importance of the journey over the end results.
“I would say that a long of things have changed,” de Jesus dos Santos told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview in May. “I really grew up after the Tokyo Games. I made the decision to change my training location, to go train in the United States, to Houston, with Cecile and Laurent, to train alongside Simone Biles.
“It’s really full of news. That’s what makes me really different now,” she continued. “I learned a lot of positive things and regained myself confidence. I think it will help me for the future.”
In the here and now, the changes have already paid off with de Jesus dos Santos delivering under enormous pressure last October at the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.
In the final rotation, she was Team France’s final competitor on the always tricky balance beam. Her squad needed one last routine for a historic medal finish: she delivered and the team took bronze.
“It was really incredible because we didn’t expect too much, but it turns out we had a very good competition. It was really a great reward for us,” de Jesus dos Santos said of the feat. “It gives a boost to the Paris Games, winning this medal just before the Games gives me confidence.”
Turning disappointment into fuel
France’s historic world team medal would also be part of a total turnaround for de Jesus dos Santos who came home from Tokyo 2020 frustrated.
“I was a bit disappointed, even very disappointed with my Olympic Games,” she admits. “I have a bad memory because in fact it was difficult for me, the preparation and the competition, but especially the preparation.
“A lot has happened in my life outside of gymnastics, so it was really difficult, and in the end, I couldn’t let go at the Games. I was a bit injured, my knee hurt so it was difficult for me to really compete the way I knew how to compete,” the 2019 European all-around winner continued. “I did my best, but it wasn’t really what I was able to do, so I was a bit disappointed. But now, looking back, I tell myself that I did my best and that it was not that bad.
“I learned a lot of things,” she concluded.
With the Landis and Biles, whom she says despite not knowing well prior is now like a big sister to her, supporting – and teaching – her, de Jesus dos Santos recounts major transformation.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is not to doubt yourself and to have confidence in yourself. It’s really the biggest power you can have and it’s what I think helps you succeed in everything in life,” she said. “For me, that’s really it. You have to have confidence in yourself and trust people.”
De Jesus dos Santos: "It's very rare that I tell myself that I am proud of myself."
Through all the changes in her life, Paris – a home Olympics – has beckoned as the stylish Martinique-native has graced pre-Olympic advertising campaigns for brands like Dior and Proctor and Gamble.
De Jesus dos Santos knows it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, too.
“We will be pampered by the team because we are at home. We’re really going to love these Games,” she said. “I’m going to use all of these two years of experience, I’m going to keep everything with me. I was taught gymnastics again for two years and I will keep everything positive.
“I’m going to keep all that experience for use at the Games, I’m just going to be myself and do what I know how to do using all this American experience that has served me well for the Games.”
It’s also helped bring a changed sense of how de Jesus dos Santos is approaching her second trip to the Games.
“I would say that Paris will be a success if I come out of these Olympic Games and if I am proud of myself because it’s very rare that I tell myself that I am proud of myself, really,” she said. “The most important thing is that I am happy with my work and that I have had fun. I need to enjoy these Games and come out really happy and proud of what I did.
“I think that will be the greatest success, even if there is no medal. If there isn’t one, that’s fine because I really want to enjoy my moment.”