The 24-year-old Wushu fighter is a European champion and the first woman from France taking part in the Wushu competitions at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, USA. Juliette Vauchez will compete in the discipline talou Chángquán, also known as “long fist”.
On 13th July in the Bill Battle Coliseum of Birmingham-Southern College, the Frenchwoman will compete against her rivals from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Peoples Republic of China and Indonesia. Juliette Vauchezis assured of strong support: her husband Benoist Denolle has also qualified for The World Games. He is competing in the Wushu Medal event Jianshu, Qiangshu All-round. Whether he will find time to cheer her on remains to be seen; Benoist Denolle is competing for a medal on the same day. The two have been married since the summer of 2021.
The International Wushu Federation has nominated Juliette Vauchez for the IWGA athlete award in April. One reason was that the Bordeaux athlete has qualified for the Birmingham Games this month. Another reason, presented by her federation’s Media Manager Alice Liu, reads like this: she is “one of the most popular competitors on the international Wushu circuit. Her strong work ethic, soulful performance, heartfelt sportsmanship, and deeply reflective philosophical approach to Wushu demonstrates how abiding passion for one’s sport can truly change the life of a person forever.”
Juliette Vauchez first discovered Wushu in 2003, thanks to her father who loved martial arts and had a friend practicing Wushu in a club in Bordeaux. He suggested to Juliette, who was six at the time, that she try out Wushu with his friend’s daughter. “When I started, I was mainly inspired by my teachers, Mulan and Karate Kid movies,” she says. “Later she started competing and then teaching. And she became an ambassador for her sport, which is not very well known in France. She says:
“We are trying to make this sport grow in the city, so we actually teach in two clubs, and in four different sport centres, in order to reach more people!”
Having in mind that she is married to a Wushu athlete, she does not exaggerate when she claims “Wushu is really a story that covers all my life!” The next chapter will be written in Birmingham, Alabama on July 13.
Juliette recently shared more with Protective Life about her accomplishments, being the first woman from France to compete in TWG for Wushu, and the legacy she hopes to leave.
Q: If you weren’t a wushu fighter, what other World Games sport would you compete in?
It's an interesting question as I am curious and I would enjoy discovering all of them. However, speaking about competition and performance, to me, it definitely wouldn't be a ball sport or riding. I would say dancing! I love that!
Q: How are you feeling about being the first woman from France taking part in the wushu competitions at TWG?
I am proud to take part in this competition. It's a great opportunity to spread wushu in the world and an outstanding comeback on the international stage after 2 years of pandemic. I feel like I am opening the path for the French wushu female competitors, there is a powerful new generation coming up: girl power!
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
It is hard to answer because every moment is unique. Of course, standing on an international podium is thrilling and makes me proud; also I was very happy when I heard I was ranked 8 at the world championship and was selected for the World Cup. But when I think about my sport career, what really makes me proud is to be still here. I mean, in a non-professional sport, I saw plenty of my sport mates quit high level training or competing. It is sometimes hard to manage training, personal and professional life. I am proud of making my life a wushu journey, to continue learning and teaching to new generations.
Q: What legacy do you hope to leave in your sport?
First, I hope that people won't say, "It is good for a girl" anymore. I aim to be as good as male athletes, and to show that I can be a beast at training. I hope this state of mind will mark some wushu players: to not give up, to pursue your goals and to stay a fair competitor. Then, I will continue teaching and spreading wushu to make it more popular in France and to increase on the global level.
Congratulations Juliette on being named April’s Athlete of the Month, and we’re looking forward to cheering you on in the future!
Read more about Juliette and previous Athlete of the Month honorees on The World Games website.
