World champion Laure Fournier was the star attraction as the French National Sambo Championships took place in Deauville ©FIAS

World champion Laure Fournier was the star attraction when the French National Sambo Championship took place in Deauville.

Fournier, the chairperson of the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) Athletes' Commission, was on hand to limber up the young sambists competing.

She spent the rest of the day speaking to and having photos with athletes and fans.

Some 270 athletes – 206 men and 64 women – participated in the championship.

More than 100 children came to the mat in the age categories of seven to eight, nine to 10, 11 to 12 and 13 to 14. 

There were also competitions for cadets aged 15 to 16, juniors aged 19 to 20 and masters aged over 35.

Laure Fournier was elected chairperson of the International Sambo Federation Athletes' Commission in December 2017 ©FIAS
Laure Fournier was elected chairperson of the International Sambo Federation Athletes' Commission in December 2017 ©FIAS

In December, Fournier, winner of the women’s 56 kilograms gold medal at the World Championship in Bucharest a month earlier, hailed as "an amazing achievement" sambo’s provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

She predicted the recognition "opens a bright future" for the sport.

The IOC announced its provisional recognition, which is set to last for three years, following an Executive Board meeting in Tokyo.

It means FIAS will be eligible for funding from the IOC, including grants for development programmes.

Fournier was elected chairperson of the FIAS Athletes' Commission in December 2017.

The Frenchwoman automatically became a member of the FIAS Executive Committee after her appointment, in line with the world governing body's statutes.