Emmanuela Oliveira 
Aurelie Le Vern, one of the main athletes in women’s Jiu-Jitsu at black-belt, is already in competitive mode to participate in the IBJJF European Championship, in Paris, France. In the same tournament where she was champion last year, as a brown-belt, and was promoted to black-belt, the Six Blades athlete is in the game this year for the gold medal in the adult, medium-heavyweight division. As the first challenge in the bracket, Le Vern faces Raquel de Oliveira, from Cantagalo Jiu-Jitsu.
In an interview with the VF Comunica team, the French competitor made it clear that the level of confidence is more than adequate. Of the 6 athletes registered in the division, Aurelie is a prominent name. “I’m feeling great about this commitment at the European Championship. This year the tournament will be held in Paris again. So, I’ll be fighting at home. That makes all the difference.”, she reveals, admitting the emotional advantage, in terms of motivation, of taking action in her homeland.
Of the competitors that the black-belt will have to face to win the title, 99% of their games are already known. During her career, she has already won 5 of the 6 black-belts in medium-heavyweight. A privilege that puts her in a position of favoritism. However, the fight is tough when it comes to a prestigious international tournament, the most important at the beginning of the agenda. As Aurelie herself says, “the division is not full, but it is world-class.”
Focusing on the ADCC Trials continues to be Aurelie’s main goal
With the main focus on the ADCC trials, Aurelie revealed that the European Championships were not in her and Tyrone Gonsalves’ plans, the fighter’s husband and black-belt responsible for the Six Blades academy in French Guiana. The opportunity to fight at the European Championship resulted from the support of sponsors. With the commitment made, part of the plans needed changes to adjust the agenda. However, the previous goal remains intact.
“The focus has not changed, training and preparation are 100% focused on the ADCC trials. Right after the European Championship, Tyrone and I will travel to São Paulo to continue our preparations.”, she explains, envisioning the priceless gain she will have at Melqui Galvão’s gym.
If last year Aurelie Le Vern did not participate in the biggest IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu tournament on Brazilian soil, the IBJJF world champion, since her blue-belt phase, will be present at the Brasileiro, scheduled for the end of April at traditional stadium in Barueri, in São Paulo. With the Brazilian champion’s medal around her neck, the goal is to go to the Worlds in the pyramid and repeat the feat. The strategy has been drawn up and will begin very soon at the European Championships.
