Laura Flessel ready for Olympics number 5

SUGGESTED SCRIPT:

Up here in the clear air of the French Alps, the hustle and bustle of London 2012 feels an age away.

But it's here that French fencer Laura Flessel is preparing for her 5th Olympic Games and after a disappointing show last time out in Beijing she is determined to make her mark.

SOUNDBITE 1 Laura Flessel (woman) 5-time Olympic medalist (French, 23 secs):
"My motto is to go for the win by inspiring myself with what went wrong at the Games in Beijing, but also above all by imagining the Olympic holy grail."
Tactically aggressive, she has already won 23 international medals, with 5 Olympic ones including epee gold in Atlanta in 1996.

She is known as "the wasp" for her speedy sting and her coach Stephane Riboud believes that despite her failure in China she still has what it takes to suceed in London.

SOUNDBITE 2 Stephane Riboud (man) Trainer (French, xx secs):
"For her age she is already much more experienced, so everything is calculated, it is much more rational, and right now she has an open mind, and is rejuvinated, she is letting herself go more, It is really cool, she is fencing by instincy and that has been her strength over the years.."

With the weight of experience behind her, Flessel is very much the elder stateswoman of the French team..

The 40 year old - who will carry the French flag at the opening ceremony - says that London will be her last games.

And what better way to say goodbye to the sport she has graced for so long than to win the gold medal.



SHOTLIST

- VAR beauty shots Meribel
- VAR Laura Flessel
SOUNDBITE 1
- VAR Flessel training with Stephane Riboud
SOUNDBITE 2
-VAR Laura Flessel


EXTRA RUSHES

- VAR Flessel
- VAR Meribel