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.
