The first French women’s beach volleyball team to qualify for the Olympics (Paris) in 24 years. The Toulouse-based players, Alexia Richard and Lézana Placette, have excelled and are fighting with their values to evolve this sport. The Olympic effect has faded. Their association is looking for an equipment supplier to prepare for Los Angeles 2028.
They have redefined women’s beach volleyball by ditching the bikini and have ranked among the top teams in the world. Their goal: the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Toulouse players Alexia Richard and Lézana Placette do not have equipment through their association and do not want to play naked: it’s a matter of attire.
the 2 volleyball players Alexia Richard and Lézana Placette have not lost their sense of humor to earn their place (and sponsors) for the 2028 Olympics.
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© Site LinkedIn Jean-Louis Cazes
It was already an achievement to have a French pair at the Paris Olympics in women’s beach volleyball. Under the Eiffel Tower, in front of 13,500 spectators, Alexia Richard and Lézana Placette won the first match of the competition… in shorts, against the Rio world champion. It may be a detail for you but for them it means a lot.
With their feet in the sand, under the spotlight of the world, Alexia and Lézana qualified for the playoffs to reach the round of 16 of the Olympic tournament. A performance. «It was the first sold-out sport. We still receive lots of messages from people who thought it was great. Beach volleyball is physical, tactical, it’s a show. Once you’ve seen it, you want to go back and watch it again.» Alexia Richard’s enthusiasm quickly faded.
«We thought that with the Olympics, it would attract the media, sponsors with this incredible setting under the Eiffel Tower, continues Lézana Placette. The French loved it, we gained in popularity.»
During the Olympics, they were approached, even by big brands. It was only for 3-4 days and not for a long-term commitment. «We’re not interested in having partners like that,» acknowledges Lézana. We want people who support us for our sporting and human project, to work with nice people. We are authentic individuals. We try to promote women’s sports. It’s not just about aesthetics but about the beauty of the sport.»
Almost 10 months after the Olympics, nothing has changed. They are members of the French team and receive items through the federal equipment supplier. For 6 years, the players have been looking for an equipment supplier for their association, «Pari2024» (like a sports bet for the Olympics) which has now become Objective Los Angeles 28 (OLA28). This would allow them to buy technical clothing not provided by the federation.
They aim to develop and promote their sport, but weariness and self-doubt have taken hold, especially for Alexia. «We’re tired of getting negative responses. Are we bad? Are we not beautiful? They’re not looking for perfect girls but profiles.»
«We are two tall blondes and we are funny! We took it badly.»
Alexia et Lézana, la paire toulousaine de beach-volley qui défend le droit de choisir sa tenue : short, bikini ou en legging
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© HUANG ZONGZHI / XINHUA
So on LinkedIn, their «heart Grandpa», their «double agent» Jean-Louis Cazes who has supported them since 2018 raised an alert. «Let’s just say that NOTHING has changed. They look around and see many athletes supported by textile brands, without having their track record. So, they ended up asking themselves: «What are we doing wrong? What should we do?».
The 2 beach volleyball players do not give up. Those who have marked their sport with their performances but also to make it a sport and not just an attraction have not lost their humor. They affirm that they will not «play naked» and are preparing for the Olympics.
At the beginning of 2025, things are moving. The National Sports Agency (ANS) continues to invest in this sport and the FFVB still finances a majority of their season.
On social media, Alexia and Lézana first put on a… military outfit! They are integrated into the Army of Champions, and have become godmothers of the Space Command based in Toulouse.
After «Objective Pari24», they launch their project OLA28 (Objective Los Angeles) on social media. The ambition is still intact: to participate in the Los Angeles Olympics.
French champions in 2020 and 2021, they reached 15th place in the world in 2023/24. They have since written a new page in women’s beach volleyball by winning the first female medal in the history of a Beach Pro Tour Challenge tournament.
Currently, they are returning from a competition in China and will fly to Hamburg this Thursday, May 22. Despite the difficulties they encounter in their search for post-Olympic sponsors, they compete in Challenge competitions (from Top 5 to 40) and in Elite (top 20).
Among their values and their fight, removing the sometimes sexist aspect of this sport. Long played in bikinis, beach sports have evolved a bit under the impetus of the Norwegian handball team and then the beach volleyball team. An attitude that was quickly adopted by Alexia and Lézana. The French pair was the first in the tournament in 2024 to play in shorts and sports bras instead of bikinis.
For Alexia, it’s not a problem of shorts, bikinis, or leggings. «We didn’t have more sponsors before. People remembered the shorts but that’s not the cause of the problem.» And Lézana continues. «We’re not defending the shorts but the right to choose. It used to be very regulated. Above 14°C you had to play in panties. When it was colder, in leggings. We want to play the way we want.»
So here they are, back for the competitions, hoping that the call from Grandpa Jean-Louis will be heard to find new partners (but with human values) and other sponsors. And for that, they also use social media a lot, always with humor and elegance. «We want to show the real life of a high-level sport, continues Lézana. With some less sexy aspects: work, efforts, washing our bikinis… Always with humor and self-deprecation!»
The interview ends in joy and good humor despite the weariness. A rise to the net for the European Championships scheduled in Germany in July, then the World Championships in Australia in November. An exchange that must be concluded with new sponsors.
Leur association est à la recherche d’un équipementier pour se préparer pour les Jeux Olympiques de Los Angeles en 2028. «We are two tall blondes and we are funny! We took it badly.»
On LinkedIn, their «heart grandpa», their «double agent» Jean-Louis Cazes who has been supporting them since 2018 raised an alert. «Let’s just say that NOTHING has changed. They look around them and see many athletes supported by clothing brands, without having their track record. So, they eventually wondered: «What are we doing wrong? What should we do?»»
The two beach volleyball players do not give up. Those who have made their mark on the sport with their performances but also to make it a sport and not just an attraction have not lost their sense of humor. They affirm that they will not «play naked» and are preparing for the Olympics.
At the beginning of 2025, things are changing. The National Sports Agency (ANS) continues to invest in this sport and the FFVB still finances a majority of their season.
On social media, Alexia and Lézana first put on a… military outfit! They are integrated into the Army of Champions, and have become godmothers of the Space Command based in Toulouse.
After «Objective Pari24», they launch their project OLA28 (Objective Los Angeles) on social media. The ambition is still intact: to participate in the Los Angeles Olympics.
French champions in 2020 and 2021, they reached the 15th place worldwide in 2023/24. They have since written a new chapter in women’s beach volleyball by winning the first female medal in the history of a Beach Pro Tour Challenge tournament.
Currently, they are returning from a competition in China and will fly to Hamburg on Thursday, May 22. Despite the difficulties they face in finding sponsors post-Olympics, they compete in Challenge (from Top 5 to 40) and Elite (top 20) competitions.
Among their values and their fight, removing the sometimes sexist side of this sport. Long played in bikinis, beach sports have evolved somewhat under the impetus of the Norwegian handball team and then the beach volleyball team. An attitude that Alexia and Lézana quickly adopted. The French pair was the first in the 2024 tournament to play in shorts and sports bras instead of bikinis.
For Alexia, it’s not a problem of shorts, bikinis, or leggings. «We didn’t have more sponsors before. People remember the shorts but that’s not the cause of the problem.» And Lézana continues, «We don’t defend the shorts but the right to choose. It used to be very regulated. Above 14°C, we had to play in panties. When it was colder, in leggings. We want to play how we want.»
So they are back for competitions, hoping that Papy Jean-Louis’s call will be heard to find new partners (but with human values) and other sponsors. And for that, they also use social media a lot, always with humor and elegance. «We want to show the real life of a high-level sport,» continues Lézana. «With a few less sexy aspects: work, effort, washing our bikinis… Always with humor and self-mockery!»
The interview ends in joy and good humor despite the weariness. A net ascent for the European championships scheduled in Germany in July, then the world championships in Australia in November. An exchange that must be concluded with new sponsors. Leur association est à la recherche d’un équipementier pour se préparer pour les Jeux Olympiques de Los Angeles en 2028. Nous sommes deux grandes blondes et nous sommes drôles ! Nous l’avons mal vécu.»
Alors sur LinkedIn, leur «Papy de cœur», leur «agent double» Jean-Louis Cazes qui les soutient depuis 2018 a lancé une alerte. «Autant vous dire que RIEN n’a changé. Elles regardent autour d’elles et voient de nombreux athlètes soutenus par des marques de textile, sans pour autant avoir leur palmarès. Alors, elles ont fini par se demander : «Qu’est-ce qu’on fait de travers ? Que devons-nous faire ?».
Les deux beach-volleyeuses ne baissent pas les bras pour autant. Celles qui ont marqué leur sport par leurs performances mais aussi pour que ce soit un sport et pas seulement une attraction n’ont pas perdu leur humour. Elles affirment qu’elles ne «joueront pas nues» et se préparent pour les JO.
En ce début d’année 2025, les choses bougent. L’Agence Nationale du Sport (ANS) continue d’investir dans ce sport et la FFVB finance toujours une partie majoritaire de leur saison.
Sur les réseaux, Alexia et Lézana enfilent d’abord une tenue…militaire ! Elles sont intégrées à L’Armée de Champions, et sont devenues marraines du Commandement de l’Espace basé à Toulouse.
Après «Objectif Pari24», elles lancent leur projet OLA28 (Objectif Los Angeles) sur les réseaux. L’ambition est donc intacte : participer aux JO de Los Angeles.
Championnes de France en 2020 et 2021, elles ont atteint la 15e place mondiale en 2023/24. Elles ont depuis écrit une nouvelle page du beach-volley féminin en remportant la première médaille féminine de l’histoire sur un tournoi Challenge du Beach Pro Tour.
Actuellement, elles reviennent d’une compétition en Chine et vont s’envoler pour Hambourg ce jeudi 22 mai. Malgré les difficultés qu’elles rencontrent dans leur recherche de sponsors post olympique, elles font les compétitions en Challenge (du Top 5 jusqu’au 40) et en Elite (top 20).
Parmi leurs valeurs et leur combat, enlever le côté parfois sexiste de ce sport. Longtemps joués en bikini, les sports de plages ont un peu évolué sous l’impulsion de l’équipe norvégienne de hand puis celle de beach-volley. Une attitude reprise de volée par Alexia et Lézana. La paire tricolore a été la première dans le tournoi en 2024 à jouer en short et brassières et non en bikini.
Pour Alexia, ce n’est pas un problème de short, bikini ou leggings. «Nous n’avions pas plus de sponsors avant. Les gens ont retenu le short mais ce n’est pas la cause du problème.» Et Lézana de poursuivre. «On ne défend pas le short mais le droit de choisir. Avant c’était très réglementé. Au-dessus de 14°C il fallait jouer en culotte. Quand c’était plus froid, en leggings. On veut jouer comme on a envie.»
Les voilà donc reparties pour les compétitions, en espérant que l’appel de Papy Jean-Louis soit entendu pour trouver de nouveaux partenaires (mais avec des valeurs humaines) et autres sponsors. Et pour ça, elles utilisent aussi beaucoup les réseaux, toujours avec humour et élégance. «On veut montrer la vraie vie d’un sport de haut niveau,» poursuit Lézana. «Avec des aspects un peu moins sexy : le travail, les efforts, laver ses bikinis…Toujours avec humour et autodérision!»
L’interview se termine dans la joie et la bonne humeur malgré la lassitude. Une montée au filet pour les championnats d’Europe prévus en Allemagne au mois de juillet, puis les championnats du monde en Australie en novembre. Un échange qu’il faut conclure avec de nouveaux sponsors.
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