2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: Mélanie De Jesus Dos Santos' American adventure is starting to pay off
The French gymnast, who now trains in Houston alongside Simone Biles, spoke exclusively to Olympics.com about the changes inside and outside the gym that have benefited her since departing for the United States following Tokyo 2020.
Artistic Gymnastics
A year after departing France to train in the United States, Mélanie De Jesus Dos Santos returned home to participate in the FIG World Challenge Cup.
Competing on bars, beam, and floor at the Bercy Arena, venue for artistic gymnastics at Paris 2024, the results showcased a new and improved de Jesus dos Santos, less than a year out from her home Games.
The not so small matter of the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, taking place from 30 September to 8 October, was just weeks away too, for the four-time European champion.
Following a podium training session ahead of the two-day competition, more than 100 children remained in the stands cheering for de Jesus dos Santos, who then spent time taking selfies and signing autographs.
“It warms my heart to see so many children attending gymnastics," de Jesus dos Santos told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview at the event. "And to see them cheering me on is really nice.”
Houston may be her new base camp, but her popularity rating is still high in France. In the U.S., where she has been training since last year, de Jesus dos Santos does not garner as much passion. Yet.
"I'm not very famous there... but in the United States, they love gymnastics, so even if they don't know (me) they're going to scream, so that's cool," she said.
Nevertheless, her recent performance at the U.S. Classic as a guest international competitor, saw her finish in second place behind only Simone Biles.
Such a statement is beginning to draw additional attention to the Martinique-born gymnast and offers proof that settling in Texas was the right decision for her.
Mélanie De Jesus Dos Santos wants to have fun
Over the past 18 months, de Jesus dos Santos has discovered a new life, a new culture and a new gym.
The change was radical – similar to moving from the island of Martinique aged 13 to train in mainland France – but it suits her from every aspect as this is what she came to seek by joining husband and wife team Cécile and Laurent Landi at the World Champions Centre.
“It’s going really well," said de Jesus dos Santos. "I think I made the right choice by leaving because I learned a lot of things. I rediscovered gymnastics. I'm having a blast in training, I'm having fun, I get along well with the girls, with the coaches. The relationship with sport is not the same and it shows. I like everything there, so I feel good and I think that shows in my gymnastics,” said the 23-year-old.
The balance of her daily life in America, which includes an interest in fashion, enables her to feel completely fulfilled, which is also what she was looking for in gymnastics.
Working with a psychologist and taking her coaches' advice encouraged a more relaxed, fun approach.
“I have become ‘Americanised’ and I think it shows," smiled de Jesus dos Santos. "It's good because I really want to show people that I'm having fun. I promised myself to be more open, to have fun.”
The smile does not falter even when talking about the obstacles she had to overcome during the move Stateside.
Obtaining a visa, improving her English, even training starting earlier than in France, all are adaptations that de Jesus dos Santos has taken in her stride, and this new-found confidence is showing in her performances.
At the World Challenge Cup, de Jesus dos Santos came away with gold on bars, ahead of the 2021 world silver medallist on the apparatus, Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, and the floor title.
But it was more than just confidence gained that enabled the stand-out performances that have seen her cited as one of the favourites in the all-around competition at the upcoming World Championships.
The difficulty of her routines needed to be improved too, and to do that, de Jesus dos Santos had to start from the beginning.
Mélanie De Jesus Dos Santos' new elements
“I felt like I didn't know how to do gymnastics anymore," smiled de Jesus dos Santos recalling the period in which her coaches took her gymnastics back to basics. "I was learning like a little kid just starting out. I couldn't do it, I fell all the time, so it was a little frustrating."
But if you're going to believe in anyone to help you achieve your goals, it would be the coaches who have helped Biles become the best of all time. The newly married 26-year-old American is looking to add to her incredible stash of 25 world championship medals, including 19 golds, in Belgium.
Her club team-mate is looking for her first
"I trusted my coaches and they said, 'OK, it will be better for you (to start again), so you have to face that'," said de Jesus dos Santos.
"I trusted them, and then I say I do what they tell me to do and in the end they are right."